The first time Diego Simeone faced Chelsea as manager of Atletico Madrid, it earned him a raise of several million euro, extra years on his contract and a place in the Champions League final. None of the above will be on offer on Tuesday when Los Rojiblancos host the club from Stamford Bridge, albeit in the Romanian capital of Bucharest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The raise and the new contract came because, as is his wont, Roman Abramovich saw something shiny, cool and attractive and immediately tried to acquire it. It was the 2013-14 season.