Frustration at Atletico Madrid as solidity that has defined Diego Simeone's reign wanes

To try to disengage from the all-encompassing job that is managing Atletico Madrid, long-time manager Diego Simeone likes an afternoon trip to the cinema.

"The coaching part is beautiful and tough at the same time," he once said of his escapes. "It’s difficult to disconnect. I go to the movies on Tuesday – or Thursday if I have a match in Europe - and suddenly the film gets boring and players appear on the screen. I start to think, 'how can I drop this one? How can I make him improve?'"

The Argentine, in charge of the team he served so well as a player since 2011, has had much to think about of late. His side won La Liga last May, yet like Wednesday’s Champions League opponents Manchester United, are well off the pace in their domestic league, having lost five of 10 league games since December. Atleti are fifth and have conceded more goals than any other team in the top half of the table.

“We have been defending extraordinarily well for 10 years and this year it is not working out for us”, Simeone said after a recent defeat. “We can improve, we don’t have the attention we should have.”

The team who sat second after beating Barcelona at home in October (Luis Suarez scored) slipped out of the Champions League spots after losing 4-2 to Barcelona this month (Luis Suarez again).

The Uruguayan, 35, a former nemesis of Manchester United, isn’t the player he was but he’s still capable of scoring a sublime goal, as he did in a 3-0 win at Osasuna on Saturday with a lob from distance. It was the first time Simeone’s side has kept a clean sheet all season. It wasn’t as convincing as it sounds: Osasuna had 63 per cent possession and 13 shots to Atleti’s five. A team long renown for warrior-like defenders that symbolised their