Just how strong was Shane Carter in the air?
That was easy to find out on the training ground. When he completed his third successful set-piece attack, rising high and powering a header into the net, Simeone immediately turned to his assistant, Germán.
"Scrap the entire game plan for Barcelona. We start over."
Germán nodded without hesitation. Everyone understood. The aerial ability Shane had just displayed would become Atlético's secret weapon.
And more importantly, what was Barcelona's biggest weakness? Aerial duels.
For the Barcelona manager, this top-of-the-table clash suddenly felt a little unfair. Because none of his preparations had accounted for this change. He had studied Atlético based on their previous matches.
But Barcelona's own system? Everyone knew it. Their style was already mature, almost to the point of being predictable.
Perhaps that was the problem. After reaching their peak, they had remained strong, but never quite pushed beyond it. In 2011, Barcelona defeated Manchester United and stood at the summit of Europe. Ferguson's trembling hands became an iconic image of that final. That season, Barcelona reached their absolute peak. The world stood in awe of their dominance.
If even Ferguson, who had ruled English football for decades, looked that helpless, it said everything about Barcelona's strength.
But success has its limits. After the peak comes the decline. The following season, they faced Mourinho's Real Madrid in the league. They fell behind in the standings and ultimately finished second. This season, they suffered a brutal 7-0 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
In La Liga, they remained consistent. But their rival, Atlético Madrid, now a Champions League finalist, looked even more stable.
The Barcelona manager understood. He had taken this team as far as it could go. Breaking beyond that limit was extremely difficult.
Perhaps it was time to leave. Bayern Munich's president, Uli Hoeneß, had already reached out privately. Nothing official. But if he said yes, the job was his.
Still, he wasn't ready to let go. Before leaving, he wanted to leave behind one more La Liga title.
But Atlético Madrid were not an easy obstacle. The manager's gaze settled on Shane Carter's image on the screen. The heart of Atlético. Everyone knew it. Stop Shane, and you choke Atlético.
That was their pressure point.
But the real question was, how do you stop him?
The more he thought about it, the worse his headache became. At the tactical meeting that evening, he had no choice. He needed a plan. Even an imperfect one. Something was better than nothing.
"At the moment he enters dangerous areas, cut off his connection with the rest of the team. Here, here, and here. In these zones, he must not receive the ball easily."
"If he does get it, do not foul recklessly. Remember his direct free-kick ability."
"In other areas, you can allow him to receive. But the moment he tries to turn forward, stop it immediately."
The manager pointed across the tactical board. The Barcelona players were all intelligent. They understood exactly what that meant. Be physical. Even foul if necessary. As long as it wasn't in a direct shooting position, it was acceptable.
Across La Liga, all attention turned to May 9.
A global showdown. To accommodate fans worldwide, especially in the United States, the match was scheduled in the afternoon local time. For American viewers, that meant an early afternoon kickoff. For European fans, it was prime evening viewing.
Normally, a clash of this magnitude would be filled with interviews, headlines, and noise. But this time, something felt different.
Both teams were unusually quiet.
Barcelona arrived in Madrid three days early. Aside from a brief daily media window, they remained closed off. Training sessions were largely hidden. Players rarely spoke to the press.
Atlético were the same. Apart from captain Gabi and Simeone handling routine media duties, the rest of the squad kept a low profile. Training. Autographs. Then straight out of the facility.
Nothing leaked. Nothing revealed.
And just like that, May 9 arrived.
Three hours before kickoff. Outside the Calderón, the atmosphere was already building. Atlético fans gathered early, unable to contain their excitement. Media crews from around the world set up their positions. Reporters began their live segments.
"We're going to beat Barcelona right here."
One Atlético fan shouted into the camera, pounding the club crest on his chest as he sang. The surrounding crowd erupted in response.
The camera panned across the sea of supporters outside the stadium, then slowly settled on a massive billboard. It had been updated specifically for this match. Shane Carter's silhouette dominated the image. He stood facing the distance.
And there, faint but unmistakable, was the La Liga trophy.
At his feet, in bold lettering:
[1996–2013: Seventeen Years of Waiting.]
It had been seventeen years since Atlético Madrid last won the league title.
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