After the war, during the early Francoist period, Atlético became associated with the military air force, although the alleged preference of the regime for the club is subject to discussion (nonetheless, after winning their very first League title in 1939, Atlético coach Ricardo Zamora was put into jail accused of being communist). In any case, during this period Atlético became the most successful club in Spain, reducing the historical gap between the two clubs, until the regime preference shifted towards Real Madrid in the 1950s as Franco sought to make political capital out of Real Madrid's multiple European Cup titles at a time when Spain was internationally isolated; one minister said, "Real Madrid are the best ambassadors we've ever had." Thus, Atlético fans regularly chanted that Real were ""El equipo del gobierno, la vergüenza del país"" – "The team of the government, the shame of the country" – and allegedly adopted a more left-wing slant (tempered by the rise of ultras culture, and Rayo Vallecano's presence as the "true" leftist club in Madrid).