Rising star Simeone leaves Tata in his wake

One thing was for sure going into Saturday’s all or nothing La Liga clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. The fifth Argentinian coach in history was going to win the trophy.

Everything else was still to be decided.

And it was Atletico’s Diego ‘El Cholo’ Simeone celebrating on the final whistle, leaping from his technical area to join his players on the pitch, as most of the 90,000 plus home fans applauded what is a scarcely credible achievement by Simeone’s team this season.

A few moments earlier Barcelona’s Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino had been frantically gesticulating on the sideline, looking for a way to get the one goal his team needed to win the game and take the title.

When that was no longer possible he slumped to his knees, and watched — alongside another disconsolate Argentinian Leo Messi — as Atletico’s players gave Simeone the bumps.

The 90 minutes had rammed home the differences in personal style and professional effectiveness between the two coaches. Simeone always seemed in control of the situation, even as his team lost their two best attackers in top scorer Diego Costa and main creator Arda Turan to early injuries, and Alexis Sanchez put Barca 1-0 up with a stunning volley.

Atletico’s players came roaring out of the dressing room after hearing the half-time team talk, looking confident they’d get the equaliser required. Soon David Villa hit a post, then Diego Godin powered in a header.

With the tables turned again, and Barca now needing a goal, Martino seemed unable to exert any influence. When Sergio Busquets pulled up lame, it seemed Xavi Hernandez must come on, but instead Tata played safe with the more defensive — but only fractionally as talented — Alex Song.

Xavi finally got 15 minutes to try and create the one goal they needed, but Barca — with Messi again subdued — always lacked real belief.

Martino has never seemed a comfortable fit at the Camp Nou and defeats to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey and to Atletico in the Champions League sealed his fate.

Ex-Barca midfielder and former Barca B coach Luis Enrique was lined up to take over for next season, no matter how the decider went. Off-the field controversies have not helped, while Tata himself has long appeared eager to get the hell out of Catalonia.

He was characteristically dignified on Saturday night, while suggesting that deep down he knew he had not been up to the job.

“I want to communicate that I have agreed with the club to no longer be Barcelona coach,” he said awkwardly. “We tried until the end, with a lot of humility, but we met a better rival.”

It seems very unlikely that Simeone would ever be so accepting in the face of defeat.

“We have a team that never stops fighting, battling,” the victorious boss said. “Today we could make history at a club we all love a lot. I told them at half-time they were doing well. We knew we were strong, and could take advantage of a set-piece.

“In no moment did I think the team was out of the match. The harder the situation, the better they play.”

Both Argentinian coaches faced difficult situations this season. Martino now heads for home, while Simeone’s star keeps rising up and up.