Simeone remembers the Estudiantes de La Plata world champion at Old Trafford

Madrid, 14 Mar Diego Simeone, the coach of Atlético de Madrid, was not born when Estudiantes de La Plata was proclaimed world champion for the first and only time in its history, on October 16, 1968, with a 1-1 draw in that year's second leg of the Intercontinental Cup against Manchester United in Old Trafford, with the starter header of Juan Ramón Verón, the father of Juan Sebastián Verón. On the same stage, in the 'Teatro de los Sueños', to which that feast of the Argentine club belongs, indelible forever, the coach, also Argentinian, recalled that Estudiantes de La Plata in his last response of the press conference, to perhaps somehow link that moment with which he is waiting now with Atlético, in the on the eve of the decisive match that he faces this Tuesday in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. “A fantastic stadium (Old Trafford) full of historic matches. I remember that meeting of Estudiantes de La Plata of Verón's dad that had well marked the strength of that wonderful team of Estudiantes de La Plata. This stadium is full of matches like the one that will come tomorrow,” said the Argentine coach, who went back 54 years to proclaim a feat that, saving distances and time, proposes for his team. Simeone, who has also led that club in his coaching career (he was Apertura champion in 2006), returned this Monday to memory, to the present day, the historic world title of Estudiantes de La Plata, when the best on the planet was resolved in a double match between the champion of Europe and that of the Libertadores, as it was then. In the first leg, the Argentine team beat Manchester United 1-0 in the match held at La Bombonera de Boca Júniors, in Buenos Aires, with the goal, also leading, by Marcos Conogliario. Old Trafford was left. October 16, 1968. The leading goal of Juan Ramón Verón, the draw to one (achieved in the 89th minute by his opponent, far from changing the winner of the cup), the embrace of all the players, led by Osvaldo Zubeldía, and the euphoria for victory, for having achieved a feat for eternity, for having surpassed Bobby Charlton United, Denis Law, Best and of which many of his players had been champions of the 1966 World Cup. Even in inferiority due to the expulsion of the Tato Medina. They were the heroes of Old Trafford: Poletti, Malbernat, Aguirre Suárez, Medina (expelled), Bilardo, Pachamé, Madero, Ribaudo (Echecopar), Conigliaro, Togneri and Verón, according to the lineup listed on the club's official website. “Glory is not reached by a path of roses.” Word of Osvaldo Zubeldía, the man who led the Estudiantes de La Plata to the top of the world. CHIEF id/jl