To make the Diego Simeone will first in his coaching career with a Dutch opponent. The coach of Atletico Madrid will appear with little positive memories to the kickoff at the Philips Stadium. As the former midfielder tore his cruciate ever. Also to other meetings with teams from the Netherlands Simeone does not retain warm memories
The most painful -. In the literal sense of the word – dating back nearly fifteen years ago. Simeone comes with Lazio on September 26 2001 visited Eindhoven in the context of the group stage of the Champions League. Seven minutes before the break, the game, which PSV won 1-0, for the then 31-year old checker end. He comes up wrong after an aerial clash. The diagnosis: a partially torn ligament, which would keep him until early April from circulation. He’s only just fit in time for the 2002 World Cup.
Argentina is as title favorite already eliminated during the first round of the tournament in Japan and South Korea. Yet Simeone sees the Eindhoven suffered knee injury as the low point of his career, he would say in August 2009 in an interview with FIFA.com . “I jumped up and then landed on my left leg. That could not bear my weight and then said my right leg crack . I knew immediately that it was serious. It felt like my knee was off. The rehabilitation process was tough, I could not walk for two months and then turned my whole life around that knee
“it was all worth it because I could finally play the World Cup.” But pleasant memories of that tournament Simeone has not been the shutdown came against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup in his own words much harder. “We were on our way to something big, stood with a man more, and it seemed like we were going to renew. When that long ball came over fifty meters superb Dennis Bergkamp was finishing. Nobody knew exactly how who that goal had been against. Our hope was so great, the frustration we felt was the greater. “
Dutch curse
are the two most striking examples of Dutch curse at some crucial moments kicking lit during the career of Simeone. Eighteen months after the famous elimination against Orange loses the combative controller with Lazio in the Champions League surprising Feyenoord (1-2). Jon Dahl Tomasson has his revenge by coach Leo Beenhakker on as a substitute to score twice. The Danish attacker raises his middle finger towards the dugout as he grows into match winner in the stadium of the upcoming champion of Italy.
On March 19, 1997 provides another Supersub which Simeone his first encounter with a Dutch team also maintains a sour aftertaste. Dani guides Ajax with a stunning long shot in the hundredth minute of the CL quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid in the last four (2-3). Almost twenty years later PSV Simeones path in the eighth finals of the Champions League, but fear a new Dutch nightmare is not in his nature. “I’m not afraid of a specific player or team,” he said in 2009. “I fear myself the most. If I’m not mentally prepared to give one hundred percent, I’m not the same person. “
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