Atl. Madrid has a cohesive team. All their players can fully engage in multiple styles of play. They can all press or they can all counter-attack.
With Pirlo and a sweeper in our side, we can only play 1 way. It's not a fluid team like Atletico. It's hard to explain but it's like we have anchors on a ship.
Atletico has no problem moving the whole team around the pitch. They all run at the same speed. If the forwards press up high, the midfielders follow. All of them, not just one (Vidal). If they sit back and counter, they can all counter, not just one (Tevez).
Part of it is also formation. Ours tends to drift to a 5-3-2. The sweeper is doing nothing, just compromising our numbers in midfield and attack. Less numbers in the midfield and we can't get the ball back in dangerous areas.
If you can assemble a really athletic team with some skill, and you play with a 4 man line, you will always be a competent side.