The Atlético Madrid Chronicle
Player ratings23 Aug 2027
Álex Baena runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 38. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad23 Aug 2027
Words at Atlético Madrid training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Pablo Barrios is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Boardroom23 Aug 2027
5 academy players handed senior numbers at Atlético Madrid
The morning the pathway stops being a brochure and becomes a team sheet. Most of them will not be here in three years; all of them have already done the hard part, which was getting to today.
Squad23 Aug 2027
A late step up for Kostantis Tzolakis
At 24 the improving is meant to be over. It is not: 3 points better than the mark taken at the start of the year, which is the sort of thing that happens to players who take the boring parts of the job seriously.
Market23 Aug 2027
Eyes on Carlos Martín again
The phone has started ringing about Carlos Martín again, and this time the name on the line is Huesca. Atlético Madrid are listening politely and promising nothing.
Market23 Aug 2027
Atlético Madrid promote Andrés Garrido from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Andrés Garrido has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market23 Aug 2027
One of our own: José Molina joins the Atlético Madrid first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. José Molina is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market23 Aug 2027
Atlético Madrid promote Manuel Soto from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Manuel Soto has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Match21 Aug 2027
Girona take the points off Atlético Madrid
Beaten 0‑1, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
In brief
- Squad The manager makes an example of Kostantis Tzolakis
- Squad Obed Vargas signs a new deal
- Boardroom Nobody left the Atlético Madrid dressing room in a hurry