Six wins and a draw against teams Slovan should have beaten proved nothing. Celje was the first opponent that did.

He asked to leave in May. His one wanted club pulled out in August. On Sunday, Atlético fans booed Julián Álvarez for a transfer that no longer exists.

Every version of this story says Atlético are the obstacle. Simeone won't move, the board won't sell to a rival, the release clause is set at €500m. All true, and all only half of it. The club chasing Álvarez has four players it has already bought and still cannot register, and eleven days left to fix that before it can seriously discuss a fifth.

Six wins, one draw, four clean sheets, and a schedule of qualifying minnows. Celje is the first genuine test. Yaya Touré has won six of seven. Look at who against. Yaya Touré has won six of his first seven matches as Slovan Bratislava head coach, and not one of them has proved anything yet. Wednesday might. Slovan host Slovenian champions Celje at Tehelné pole at 21:00 in the first leg of a Champions League play-off, and it will be the first time in Touré's tenure that the