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Atletico players follow Simeone ‘like a god’

By WTOP Staff

PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Atletico Madrid’s players are ready to follow coach Diego Simeone. So far, he’s leading them to exactly the places they want to be.

“He’s like a god for us. He arrived to the club and he changed everything. What he says to us comes true,” Atletico midfielder Tiago Mendes said Friday. “We follow him, so if he asks us to go and jump from the bridge, we jump.”

Simeone has been the guiding force behind Atletico’s success this season, which already includes a Spanish league trophy.

It could add the Champions League title when it plays Real Madrid on Saturday, the first Champions League final between city rivals. Captain Gabi Fernandez calls this the most important match in the club’s history. Atletico is playing in just its second European Cup final and first in 40 years.

“More than ever we have the belief in ourselves as it has gotten us all the way to this point,” Atletico midfielder Raul Garcia said.

Simeone credits the players with making him a better coach.

“I found a group of players that has allowed me and my coaching staff to improve,” Simeone said from the Stadium of Light. “The most difficult thing you can do as a coach or player is to transmit what you hope to achieve to your players. We’ve managed that.”

The bond Simeone shares with his players is obvious to opponents.

“There’s a chemistry between Simeone and the players that is very, very good and unique,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “That’s why they won the league. He’s done fantastic work.”

Simeone’s message since his arrival just more than two seasons ago has been about teamwork, unity, and humility. His confidence in his players is unflinching, and the team’s ability to adjust has been impressive.

“Whether people like him or not, he has made us winners,” Gabi said. “He instilled belief in us, that we can win, and he has made us better.”

Atletico hadn’t beaten Madrid in 14 years before Simeone finally managed the feat at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last season to win the Copa del Rey. Atletico won again at Madrid in league play, but Simeone expects an entirely different opponent Saturday from the team that struggled early in the season.

“It’s not the same Madrid team now,” said Simeone, who is looking to become only the third non-European coach to win the European Cup. “Today they are much more competitive, they work harder. … Madrid is a very complete team.”

Cristiano Ronaldo seems ready to lead Real Madrid’s attack. He is the competition’s record scorer with 16 goals. He missed Madrid’s final league match last weekend to rest a leg muscle injury.

“Cristiano doesn’t have any problems,” Ancelotti said. “He has trained well.”

Ancelotti, however, has some doubts about Ronaldo’s strike partner, Karim Benzema, and defender Pepe. They have not trained this week because of hamstring and calf injuries.

Madrid’s vaunted forward line — the so-called BBC of Gareth Bale, Benzema and Cristiano — has produced 26 goals in this Champions League season.

Benzema has thrived between the two speedy wingers. Ancelotti, though, plays down the significance of the France forward, or any one player, in a game featuring teams that have met four times already this season.

“Benzema has had a great season and I don’t know that we are losing him,” the coach said.

Atletico has injury concerns about star forward Diego Costa, the Brazilian-born Spain international. He had horse placenta treatment on his right thigh this week. Fluid derived from a horse’s placenta is said to repair damaged cells.

“If Diego Costa is there or (Arda) Turan or any other, well, that’s no problem as far as I am concerned,” Real defender Sergio Ramos said. “What concerns me is Karim, Pepe, Cris, who have been injured in these past few days.”

___

AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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