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Soccer

Atletico's time not yet up despite Champions League elimination

It’s been an odd season for Atletico Madrid. Unbeaten in La Liga and now eliminated from the Champions League, the Spanish side has flipped-flopped between good and bad.

Manager Diego Simeone found it “difficult to explain” the paradox after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea – a match Atletico had to win to give itself a chance of reaching the knockout phase. Somehow, his players were able to take four points away from eventual Group C winner Roma, but only two from bottom-feeder Qarabag.

In the end, Atletico was simply too wasteful to advance, producing a horrific shot conversion rate of 4.7 percent in Europe. Simeone’s men had their biggest problems against newcomer Qarabag, scoring just once from 46 shots against the Azerbaijani outfit. A team that depends so much on one-goal victories cannot afford to be that profligate.

It’s clear Atletico’s in a state of flux. Amid claims that Antoine Griezmann may have already checked out, the club has struggled to score on a regular basis. Griezmann’s been asked to play as a traditional No. 9, even though that’s not what he is; as one of the best two-way forwards in world football, his strength is his mobility, not his static poaching ability.

But at the moment, there’s little reprieve. With Fernando Torres nearing the end of his career, Kevin Gameiro out of favour, and both Diego Costa and Vitolo barred from competing until the club’s transfer ban expires, a changing of the guard is waiting to happen.

It’s not so much the end of an era, but instead more of a transition from one to another. By signing a contract extension until 2020, Simeone dispelled any lingering doubts that he no longer has anything to give Atletico. He’s already handed starts to 21-year-old Lucas Hernandez, 22-year-old Angel Correa, and 24-year-old Thomas Partey, while slowly removing stalwarts Gabi, Juanfran, and Diego Godin from the forefront.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

In a system that demands high intensity and constant pressing, it’s difficult to rely on the same players year after year. And many of Simeone’s favourites are now in their 30s.

The move to the new Wanda Metropolitano also raised expectations. Under the brighter lights, perhaps there’s a burden to do more than just eke out results. Yet, that’s what Atletico has done so well under Simeone – pragmatic football that involves winning second balls, dispossessing opponents, and defending in lines of four made the manager’s teams successful. In a bigger stadium, however, Atletico’s brand of football may no longer be good enough.

What cannot be lost is that this team hasn’t given up. The odds were against Atletico as it travelled to London this week, yet the club took the initiative and controlled the play in a positive away performance.

“We looked for it until the end,” Simeone said, courtesy of ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan. “I am proud of the team. We worked hard, were competitive. We just tried to do what we could do in the game. … For sure it was a step forward for the team.”

And it really isn’t all that bad. Atletico is only six points behind the La Liga leader, has conceded the fewest goals of any team across the top-five European leagues, and now enters the Europa League as one of the favourites to win it all.

NFL

McDermott defends players after Jim Kelly questions response to hit

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott disputed Monday’s comments by Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly that Bills players did not adequately come to the defense of cornerback Tre’Davious White after he took an illegal hit Sunday from New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The NFL suspended Gronkowski one game for the hit. He will appeal the penalty, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Kelly told Buffalo radio station 97 Rock on Monday that it “surprised him” that Bills players “did not retaliate” for the fourth-quarter hit, which landed White in the concussion protocol and resulted in Gronkowski’s being flagged for unnecessary roughness.

“We had three guys standing there,” Kelly said. “When you see a shot like that — if I’m the coach, yeah, you want to play smart, you don’t want to play dirty, you don’t want to get that penalty and all that. But boy, when you see something like that, and it happens right in front of you — me as a quarterback, I might have ran over and gave him a good shot.

Bills coach Sean McDermott was proud of the reaction of his players on Sunday after Rob Gronkowski’s illegal hit on Buffalo’s Tre’Davious White: “Because that’s important as we build this thing, that we’re doing things the right way,” he said. Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

“Yeah, I might have got a penalty for it, too. But I remember back in the day … anytime anybody did something like — whether it was me or [former Bills running back] Thurman [Thomas] or anybody — we were right there. [Former Bills coach] Marv [Levy] always said, ‘Don’t play dumb, don’t play dirty.’ But the thing is, you want to come to the defense of your boys. I guess they didn’t want to get a penalty also.”

Gronkowski dove and drove his left arm into the back of White’s helmet as the rookie cornerback lay face-first on the ground to secure the ball after intercepting Tom Brady late in New England’s 23-3 win.

After the game, Gronkowski apologized for the hit and said it was fueled by frustration for what he felt should have been a defensive pass interference on the play by White. Bills safety Micah Hyde was among players calling Gronkowski’s hit “dirty” and expressing surprise that he was not ejected.

Gronkowski’s hit did not come without reaction from Buffalo. Safety Jordan Poyer shoved Gronkowski after he hit White, and linebacker Preston Brown and cornerback Lafayette Pitts stood near White and looked toward officials to throw a flag.

McDermott defended his players’ response to the play Monday.

“I know what I saw,” he said. “I’m also proud, to a point, of the poise that we showed. Because that’s important as we build this thing, that we’re doing things the right way. The referees handle things, and then we have to play within the rules.”

Former Bills safety Aaron Williams, who was fined for his role in a pregame altercation with the Patriots last season at Gillette Stadium, wrote on Twitter on Sunday that Bills players should have done more to retaliate against Gronkowski.

The flag against Gronkowski was one of four penalties on the play. Hyde and Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola were both called for unnecessary roughness for a separate altercation, and Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for his behavior toward officials. The Bills began their next drive with a first-and-25.

McDermott declined comment Monday when asked if he had been in contact with the NFL about the hit.

“We’ve moved on,” he said. “What’s gonna be is gonna be with that situation. With all due respect to all the questions. The more I answer questions about that situation, the longer it lingers — I’m just being honest with you — and the more it becomes a distraction. We have to focus on us and the Indianapolis Colts.”

Soccer

Conte: Atletico Madrid 'in a good moment of form, but it's the same for us'

Antonio Conte is keen to remind Atletico Madrid of Chelsea’s form.

On Monday, the day before welcoming Atleti to Stamford Bridge on the final matchday of the Champions League’s group stage, Conte pointed out the Blues are also entering the game on a high.

While Chelsea has already advanced to the Champions League’s knockout phase, Atleti needs a victory to have any chance of progressing from the group stage, and a win won’t be enough if AS Roma beats Qarabag FK in the other Group C game.

“Atletico are always a strong team, before and now,” Conte said. “They are in a good moment of form, but it’s the same for us. Tomorrow, the game will be open because Atletico Madrid will try to win the game, and it’ll be the same for us. The only difference is that the final result for them is very important, and for us we have already qualified, but at the same time a great team has to play every game to try to win.

“The most important thing was to qualify for the next round, because one of Atletico or Roma will go out of this tournament. We must be pleased with our path in this tournament, even if I maybe regret one game against Roma away. We want to play a big game and try to win, that’s normal. If you see the other groups, you have the same risk if you arrive first or second. If you arrive first you can draw Real Madrid or Bayern Munich or Juventus.

“We have to try to do our best tomorrow, and then we will see what happens in the draw.”

Chelsea is unbeaten in six games in all competitions, while Atleti’s only defeat of the season came against Tuesday’s opponents when the Blues exited the Wanda Metropolitano with a last-gasp 2-1 victory on the group stage’s second matchday.

NFL

Emphatic Eli: 'I plan on playing next season'

OAKLAND, Calif. — Eli Manning is facing plenty of unknowns about his future. Whether he is going to retire is not among them.

Despite his future with the New York Giants potentially being in limbo, Manning intends to be on somebody’s roster in 2018.

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“I plan on playing next season,” Manning said twice emphatically Sunday after the Giants’ 24-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback will turn 37 next month and saw his iron-man streak of 210 consecutive regular-season starts end Sunday when he was replaced by Geno Smith.

Smith threw for 212 yards with a touchdown in the loss while Manning spent the afternoon on the sideline, helping his teammates when possible. He spent most of the afternoon alongside rookie Davis Webb analyzing the Giants’ play calls.

Losing his starting role apparently hasn’t swayed Manning’s desire to play, even if he says he has not fully contemplated his future.

“No, there is no point,” Manning said. “I can’t control what is going to happen. Just finish out this season in whatever capacity they need me to do and go from there.”

Several factors could play heavily into Manning’s future. The Giants are going to be selecting near the top of the 2018 draft and could take a quarterback. One of USC’s Sam Darnold and UCLA’s Josh Rosen will likely be within their reach, if they declare for the draft.

Manning has a no-trade clause that puts the cards in his hands about where he could land. He could force the Giants into a decision by March 18, when he is due a $5 million roster bonus.

It’s not out of the question that Manning still could return to the Giants despite the events of this week. Manning said he is “not mad at anybody” after a tumultuous week that saw him lose his starting job and get emotional speaking about it at his locker afterward.

A lot will likely change with the Giants before Manning’s future can take shape. General manager Jerry Reese’s job status is believed to be in jeopardy, and coach Ben McAdoo could be fired as early as Monday.

“I don’t want that. I don’t want anybody to get fired,” Manning said. “When a coach gets fired, it’s usually because the team, the players and myself haven’t performed up to our duties. I don’t want to see that. So I hope there is no truth to it.”

In the meantime, Manning is the backup to Smith and a mentor to Webb. He is trying to be the best teammate possible under the circumstances.

“I knew once it got to [Sunday] I’d be a good teammate,” Manning said. “I’d support all the guys, be ready to play if I was called upon, support Geno, support the offensive guys, do what I had to do if I saw something that I would need to tell them.

“When I look back at the amount of people that reached out to me this week, the importance of being a good teammate hit home. All the old teammates that have reached out to me, called me, I appreciate their support, I appreciate the things they say, and it has kind of helped me get through these past couple days, these tough days. It kind of reminded me I need to be a good teammate to everybody here and do my part.”

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Soccer