They let you have the ball at the back, then trap you when you try to play it forward.
“El bloque del Atlético conducía así la pelota hacia una especie de jaula (abajo), en la que permitía al Real Madrid iniciar, pero le impedía acelerar allí donde se encontraban sus futbolistas más desequilibrantes.”Atlético's block steered the ball into a kind of cage, letting Real Madrid start their build-up but stopping them from speeding up where their most dangerous players were. our translation
Against the big sides they can wait in a tight shape and push you out wide.
“El Atlético podía esperar, cerrar espacios y obligar al Madrid a jugar por fuera, mientras sus propios futbolistas mantenían distancias cortas.”Atlético could wait, close the spaces and force Madrid to play round the outside, while their own players kept the distances between them short. our translation
When they win it, they go: Giuliano Simeone runs straight into the space.
“Giuliano Simeone adquiría libertad para atacar el espacio, los laterales podían ganar metros y el equipo aceleraba de repente.”Giuliano Simeone was free to attack the space, the full-backs could push on, and the team suddenly accelerated. our translation
Pundits are split on whether they want the ball: some say they want to keep it, others that they are happy to let you have it.
“Once known for their defensive compactness and resistance, Atletico Madrid are now transitioning to a team that maintains possession for longer spells.”“Simeone, en cambio, consiguió que el Atlético no necesitara dominar permanentemente la posesión para controlar el encuentro.”Simeone, on the other hand, managed things so that Atlético did not need to dominate possession all the time to control the game. our translation
At Real Sociedad they marked man for man high up the pitch, so the goalkeeper and centre-backs had no time on the ball.
“Atlético applied man-to-man marking high up the pitch, denying Sociedad's defenders and particularly Remiro the time and space required to execute Matarazzo's desired vertical, direct approach.”And they punish you on the break if you push too many forward.
“Atletico is very good on the counterattack too, which means that Liverpool's back line will need to be disciplined.”This Atlético press high and play out cleanly, not just sit and scrap.
“El dibujo puede parecer un 4-4-2, un 4-2-3-1 o incluso un 3-5-2 dependiendo del momento del partido, pero la idea es clara: presión alta, salida de balón mucho más limpia y libertad para que Barrios, Baena y Kang-In generen ventajas cerca del área rival.”The shape can look like a 4-4-2, a 4-2-3-1 or even a 3-5-2 depending on the moment, but the idea is clear: high pressing, much cleaner build-up, and freedom for Barrios, Baena and Kang-in to create advantages near the opposition box. our translation
When they attack, the back four becomes a three and the full-backs push right up the pitch.
“algo más parecido a un 4-3-3 en fase defensiva con cuatro defensas –que se convierten en una línea de tres en salida de ataque, con los laterales desplegándose”something closer to a 4-3-3 when defending, with four defenders who become a line of three when building an attack, the full-backs pushing on our translation