Diego Pablo Simeone’s cautious behavior in recent press conferences clearly reflects the difficult times experienced by his team, which saw Atlético Madrid fall out of the La Liga title race and make their Champions League qualification more difficult. complicated. Caution is required. Internal and external messages emanating from the locker room plead in favor of precaution. Simeone finds excessive optimism rather disturbing. In his more candid days as a player, he learned that in football, one day you can be on top of the world, and the next day you can be brought down to reality by anyone. “I evaluate things as we go. There are different moments during the season and we are going through one of them right now, always trying to improve and take care of the moment we have ,” reflected the Argentine coach during a press conference.
Atlético not only bounced back with eight consecutive victories (four in La Liga, two in the Champions League and two in the Cup), but they also showed two emphatic victories – against Sparta Prague (0-6) and Valladolid (0 -5) – with an attractive game. Tonight they face Sevilla at the Metropolitano (9:00 p.m., Movistar LaLiga), where they could secure their ninth consecutive victory, a first since 2015. “They are a vertical team that does not shy away from the ball and has the ability to build from the back,” Sevilla coach García Pimienta warned of the Rojiblancos’ return to form.
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Neither Simeone nor his players enjoyed last month, when the team underperformed. It was rare to see Cholo as rushed in his substitutions as at the start of this season, somewhat overwhelmed by the weight of the 200 million euros invested in recruits. A series of injuries severely weakened the defense (Azpilicueta, Le Normand, Llorente, Lenglet), and the midfield suffered due to the injury of Pablo Barrios, the poor form of De Paul and Koke, as well as problems adaptation of Gallagher. In attack, Griezmann, Sorloth, Julián Álvarez and Correa also struggled to find harmony, penalized in turn by the team’s weak offensive play. Two matches highlighted the uneasiness of the team and the coach. During the defeat against Benfica (4-0), Simeone’s management was hesitant and confused. In half an hour, he changed the positions of his attackers Correa, Griezmann and Julián Álvarez three times. If in Lisbon it was the coach who displayed his confusion, at Benito Villamarín, the last red and white defeat (2-0), the negligence of the players was so obvious that the coach reprimanded them.
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In his quest for stability, Simeone favored a greater commitment and survival exercise based on his more traditional approach, strengthening the back block, although there was debate with other members of the coaching staff who preferred a plan less conservative. This approach allowed Atlético to collect two undeserved victories in Bilbao (0-1) and Vigo (0-2), which are now valued more thanks to the team’s recovery. During these uncertain times, the emergence of goals from Giuliano and Correa proved vital in avoiding disaster. The return of the best version of Oblak was also crucial to consolidate victories like the one against PSG (1-2) in Paris.
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The defeat at Villamarín marked a turning point, leading to these eight consecutive victories with an impressive record of 23 goals scored and only four conceded. Atlético showed in the two mentioned spankings the chameleon nature that his coach loves. A team capable of playing different styles, either retreating or pressing high into the opposing camp. The return to the 4-4-2 pattern has also balanced the team in midfield. With Barrios back, Atlético is already starting to look like a different team. The young player, in addition to his propensity to threaten when throwing forward, has also embraced the essential covers that Koke always provides. The recent international began to put aside the moments when a match without the Vallecano meant guaranteed defeat. Barrios allows De Paul to play more freely or allows Gallagher to drift more centrally from the left. The Argentine midfielder was one of the most questioned players during the crisis. His leadership during the Cup match in Cáceres and his performances against Sparta and Valladolid were remarkable. “In these last matches he does not hesitate, and that is what Atlético fans want. We are going to ask the maximum of him because he has a place that demands that,” was the message of praise that Cholo addressed his compatriot this Saturday.
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In Prague, Simeone unveiled a midfield (Giuliano, De Paul, Barrios and Gallagher) that was repeated in Valladolid, pushing Koke to become the main casualty of this new environment, a mixture of energy, good technical qualities and presence. The captain became the twelfth player. He could be in the starting XI today if Simeone decides to rotate his squad against a Sevilla team that arrives with the firm intention of Saúl. This midfielder, capable of supporting both attack and defense, has also allowed Julián Álvarez to expand his repertoire, contributing not only with goals but also in terms of versatility.
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