Atleti is more than a club; it is a life. A fierce, undeniable passion that shapes every day. To ensure this feeling endures and what has taken years to build remains intact, supporters need a clear reflection: who the club is, where it came from, and where it is headed. The aim is calm, not hysteria or blame. The stadium can feel like a stormy place, with a toxic climate among the crowd, where voices clash and tension runs high. Some voices, from within the club, may suggest stopping this cycle—but real change requires the club to listen to its people and, if possible, establish a referendum on which symbols and traditions stay or go. A practical path forward would be to set a concrete date for such discussions, while also strengthening the four pillars that uphold the club and outlining a feasible plan. Conformity should be avoided; unity should be built.
Fans deserve to be heard. The public may be the ultimate authority, even in a business setting, because feelings cannot be bought with tokens or gestures. Those supporters who feel overlooked, who have been denied a vote during past blackouts or treated as customers rather than members of a community, have the right to decide which emblem and which jersey truly represent them. This fan base is diverse, spanning different ages and social backgrounds, and it should be treated with affection. It is steadfast and loyal, traveling everywhere in pursuit of the team, with no termination clause in its devotion. They deserve every possible consideration. Even those fans who do not profit financially from Atleti but incur costs for their support deserve to be heard.
To the coach, there is a call for recognition, affection, and respect. The coach is a living legend within the club, a cornerstone of the shield, and a father figure whose contributions, whether flawless or fallible, have shown what can be achieved when belief and effort converge. Disagreeing with a coach is understandable, but demeaning someone who has given so much is not only foolish; it erases years of happiness and memory for the supporters. Gratitude toward a figure who has brought joy to so many should be unwavering.
For the players, the message is to draw closer to the fans and explain what Atlético de Madrid stands for. The core motivation is defending the shirt fully, because the supporters would stand up for them at any moment. Players should be asked to give their all—to fight, to sprint, to exert every drop of energy on match day, whether the result is a win or a loss. They should understand that wearing the shirt carries both privilege and duty: to be present for the fans, to share time with them, and to remember that representing Atleti is a lifelong honor, not just a moment on the field.
To the club leadership, larger than any single executive or president, the call is to nurture growth while honoring the roots that began in 1903. The club should collaborate with the social committees, federations, and networks to ensure Atleti truly represents its people. When ownership changes are on the horizon, the process must be handled with social calm to safeguard the future. Those who work in knowledge that winds rarely blow in their favor know it is right to speak up when fans are harmed. The imperative is to listen more to the people, because without Atleti’s supporters, there is no Atleti.
One observer, though modest in official standing, believes it is time to concede a little and move away from ego-driven contests. A fresh alignment of the four foundational legs could restore strength and invite honest self-critique. The Atléticos—from the first fan of the South Fund to the club’s last employee, from the earliest subscriber to the youngest novice—are urged to ask a guiding question once posed by Sergio Zarza: what can we do for Atleti, rather than what Atleti can do for us.
– Reuben Uria