Atletico Madrid, what to do?

[ONEDUNME]

I asked the [sporting director Pedja] Mijatovic why and he said that if I played well against them, they [the fans] would kill all the directors."



LOL

Looks like the quotation marks and smilies aren't working for me tonight.

 

[rcgills]

Atletico draw Chelsea, but apparently UEFA have declared the clause void. As the article below says though, the question is whether Atletico will play him and risk annoying Chelsea if they're trying to sort out a deal to get him back next year...

http://www.theguardian.com/football...aw-chelsea-atletico-real-madrid-bayern-munich

Chelsea have been drawn to face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, having been told by Uefa that a clause requiring the Spaniards to fork out up to €6m for the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to play against his parent club is "null, void and unenforceable".

Unlike in the Premier League, where loan players cannot face their parent clubs, there are no such restrictions in the Champions League. Courtois, who is in his third season on loan at Atlético, played well for the La Liga leaders against Chelsea last season in the Spanish club's European Super Cup victory and, if that was slightly embarrassing for Chelsea, it may have motivated them to insert the clause into Courtois's latest deal.

However, Uefa has now stepped in and warned Chelsea they will face disciplinary proceedings should they attempt to make Atlético pay the sum, despite the contractual position.

It remains to be seen whether Atlético would select Courtois and risk damaging relations with Chelsea, given they want to take the 21-year-old back on loan next season. Chelsea are also known to be prioritising the signing of Atlético's striker Diego Costa.

In a statement, Uefa explained: "Both the Champions League and the disciplinary regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match."

It added: "It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as Uefa is concerned.

"Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the Uefa Champions League and the Uefa disciplinary regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly."

Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the other semi-final, with the first legs taking place on April 22/23 and the return the following week.

 

[slick]

Very Interetesting read RC, talk about being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
It's an awkward situation for both sides but in all fairness at least UEFA have made a stern stance on the matter to create a level playing field for the semis and I hope A Madrid have the courage of their convictions to play Courtois for their own benefit although in the same breath it does leave the match wide open wide open to corruption.

The more I thought about it as I was typing the more I think UEFA could be wrong; there's a huge confilct of Interest here and it's not fair for it to be burdened on Courtois's shoulders; For Athletico's own sake financial or otherwise it might just be aswell they leave him out and concentrate on the match in hand and give Chelsea no advantage in this match whatsoever.

 

[Punter]

I'm convinced Courtois will play. Despite his comment on wanting to be Chelsea's number 1, i believe he wants to be at Atleti. He's got a bird in Madrid for starters.

It's Costa who Chelsea are after, they'l probably get him too. Atleti can replace Costa, just like they did with Falcao. Remember him?
Strikers are two a penny at Atleti, they can get the next south american, anytime. Goalkeepers and other positions are different and Courtois has been world class.

And Cech is still only 31.

It's all a bit of a bastard to me at the moment as i've been looking at the chances of another bet coming in for me that involves Costa directly....

It's only £2.ew but i'd love to have a 150/1 place up on my Cv at the end of the season. It may turn out to be small compensation if Atleti win fuck all.

There are players out there that could still spoil it for me and i think there's more chance of Costa not playing than Courtois not playing..

 

[Kegman]

Barcelona lose another game

 

[Punter]

What's Spainish for 'Sweating like a Geordie in a spelling contest?'

 

[rcgills]

Sudando como un Geordie en un concurso de deletreo

All in Atletico's hands now - well, it was before, but they couldn't have afforded to lose to Barça. Now they can afford to lose to Barça as long as they win all their others. Getafe (A), Elche (H), Valencia (A), Levante (A), Malaga (H), Barça (A).

No reason why they shouldn't be able to win those other 5 games, just a question of how they handle the pressure from here.

 

[Punter]

Sudando como un Geordie en un concurso de deletreo. Cheers RC

And i hope you're right about those 5 games. I'm worried about how they may handle the pressure too but they now have an opportunity to go 6pts clear, as they play two games before the others play next. It may give me the opportunity of a small lay at odds on

 

[rcgills]

Marca reporting now that Mourinho has been saying that Courtois won't play. Chelsea's official stance is that they'll respect UEFA's views on the matter, and they can't enforce the clause, but if Atletico do play him, Chelsea won't be letting him go back there on loan next season.

 

[Punter]

Damn, looks like i thought wrong then.

I dont think they can win the CL anyway, i think i've a slightly better chance in the League. Only slightly though.

I do have a small profit in the league if they slip up but could do with more cover now, i think. I need to be putting in a small lay, question is do i do it now @ around 2.3 or wait and see if they beat Elche on Friday night and shorten even more?

 

[Punter]

I do have a small profit in the league if they slip up but could do with more cover now, i think. I need to be putting in a small lay, question is do i do it now @ around 2.3 or wait and see if they beat Elche on Friday night and shorten even more?

Unbelievable Jeff! I stuck a lay bet on Atleti last night, £50 @ 1.47, chancing some of it might get matched if they beat Elche, Friday night. And £41.19 got matched today! Not sure how that's happened tbh but i'm well happy about it. Backing at 101.00 and laying some @ 1.47, marvelous.

I'll leave the remaining £8.81 at that price.

This is where i'm at in the league, and probably how it'll remain. Unless you advise me otherwise.

LA LIGA
27/08/13 Winner - Atletico Madrid £15 @ 100/1 Coral
15/11/13 Winner - Real Madrid £20 @ 4/1 Bet Victor
04/02/14 Winner - Barcelona £40 @ 13/10 Ladbrokes (shop)
15/04/14 Winner - Lay Atleti @ 1.47 to return £83.34 Liability £41.19

 

[Punter]

Actually, would the wise thing to do now, be back Atleti again @ 2.08 to get my stake back and a profit of £49.48 on Barca and Real?
Would that be right? Or level out and take a profit £25 on all three? Or leave it??

 

[rcgills]

I reckon the best thing to do would be to top up with another £300 or so to lay at 1.47 and hope that sucker from last night comes back I'm sure you'd get plenty of opportunities to back a fair bit higher than that again afterwards, even if they do beat Elche.

Don't think I'd really be looking to back Atleti again in your position. You're already on for about £1400 if they win it, the amount you'd be getting back by covering is pretty small really in comparison. In that position, I'd be more grateful for the chance to win a few quid in the event that Atletico don't win it by covering Real and Barça than I would for the chance to add £25 to the winnings from Atletico.

 

[Punter]

I reckon the best thing to do would be to top up with another £300 or so to lay at 1.47 and hope that sucker from last night comes back

Yes please.

And you're right with the rest of your post too. I think i had too many Vino's last night and started to question what's best. Cheers RC

 

[rcgills]

Fantastic goal by Bale tonight to win the Copa del Rey final for Madrid

 

[Punter]

Superb. Great to see him doing so well.

What about Naymar's miss at the end there

 

[rcgills]

Sid Lowe's take on the race for the title. Interesting point regarding the fact that both Atletico and Barcelona would hate to see Real Madrid win it, would open up all kinds of possible permutations for one or the other of them playing silly buggers on the last weekend, depending on how things are going. One thing he hasn't touched upon though is the fact that I presume (must admit I've not looked it up, but I'm guessing it's the case) 3rd place have to play a qualifier for the Champions League whereas 2nd will qualify automatically. Would Atletico or Barcelona still be prepared to drop points in order to deny Real Madrid the title if it means themselves dropping to 3rd and having to play a qualifying round?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/05/real-madrid-barcelona-atletico-la-liga

 

[Punter]

Interesting read RC.

What a fantastic season La Liga has been, 3 teams in it on the final day (most likely).

Levante played brilliantly against Atleti, i'm convinced there must of been that 3rd party bonus paid lol.

I'll see how the league turns out before doing anything but any thoughts on the CL final? I'm probably going to need to do something but i'm not sure what or when yet..

You'd have to say Real are most likely winners, but i'm thinking of waiting and seeing if Atleti can score first.

 

[rcgills]

Not really sure what I'd do in your position, Punter. Agree that Madrid are the most likely winners. Still a nice position to be in though

 

[Punter]

ARGHH! Terrible result for Atleti tonight, Real only drawing. It means Barca can beat Atleti knowing they wont be handing the the title over to Real if they do.

Shite.