Diego Simeone's Atletico keep yet another clean sheet

Following Atletico’s victory over Juventus in the Champions League, Simeone’s men have now earned a total of 218 clean sheets in 414 matches during his time at the club, with 254 wins and just 297 goals conceded.

Not only is his team’s defensive record impeccable, their home record in Champions League knockout games is virtually untouchable as they have not suffered defeat in sixteen knockout matches on home soil in Europe’s elite competition, winning twelve of those affairs.

Atletico have a hugely impressive win rate of 61% since Simeone was appointed, and keep a clean sheet in over half over their matches with a clean sheet percentage of 52%, stats that any manager would be proud to boast.

This record has seen the forty-eight-year-old receive praise aplenty from football fans and pundits around the globe, and after signing a new contract which lasts until 2022 he looks set to continue his work at the club for many years to come.

Their win versus Juventus cannot and should not be undermined and the statistics are there to display why, as Atletico, alongside Barcelona, are now the only two clubs to manage three clean sheets against the Serie A league leaders.

Things are looking quite rosy for Los Rojiblancos after beating the Italian giants as Juve have not progressed to the next round of the Champions League after losing the first leg and with twelve clean sheets in the European Cup since 2013/2014, a record only bettered by Real Madrid with thirteen, they should be confident ahead of the second leg.

Simeone’s celebration for Jose Gimenez’s opener epitomised what this Atletico team are all about, as the Argentine said, “I did it to show our fans that we have cojones”, and there is little doubt amongst anyone who watches them play that his statement is anything but true.

This team will run through brick walls for their manager, with each and every member of the squad determined to break down the opposition’s attacks, and with Diego Godin leading the back-line in front of Jan Oblak there appears to be little chance for any side they come up against to score.

The stability throughout the team is the main component driving Atletico forward, as they tied star-man Antoine Griezmann to a new contract last summer amid interest from Barcelona and the boss seems dedicated to the cause regardless of the situation.

The former defensive midfielder has furthered the affinity between players and fans, as was evident in the first leg against Juventus with all supporters wearing red and white kicking every ball and creating a noise which deafened the Old Lady’s attempts to move forward.

The quality of this Atletico Madrid side should not be taken for granted as it’s rare to find such an enjoyable team to watch while playing such a defensive style of football.

They have been the nearly men in recent season’s having made it to the Champions League final twice in the past five years but tasting defeat in both, with either fixture coming against neighbourhood rivals Real Madrid.

However, there is certainly a belief that this year could be different and with the Champions League Final being held at their home stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano, fans will see their team as being destined to finally get their hands on the most famous trophy in club football.

With the second leg coming up on the twelfth of March as they make the trip to Juventus, Atletico fans are expected to travel in the thousands as the team look to continue their quest for a first Champions League winners’ medal, something which they will allow nobody to stand in the way of, especially not this year.

There is no question that Diego Simeone will leave a legacy behind at the club, even if he were to leave tomorrow, particularly after winning La Liga in 2013/2014 by beating Barcelona to the title, the aim for him now is to create history with one of the most appreciated, yet underrated clubs in world football.