• Analysis: Why do the greats of Europe now sign less midfielders?
  • Simeone, about Koke and Saul: "Emotionally they know what it is to play in Atlético"
  • Group D. Classification

Paradoxically, the two most powerful nights of Thomas Partey (Ghana, 1993) with Atlético finished the same: 0-0. Between one and the other two intense years have passed, where it has gone from being a resource to a priority in the head of Simeone. In a very hot Olympic of Rome (2017), during the premiere of that Champions League, he launched the team with Gabi with a 96% pass effectiveness. Only lack of aim. Last Saturday, again with Koke and Saul, as in Italy, he firmly and accurately grabbed the helm in front of Real Madrid. There were 79 shipments, with 90% accuracy and the unanimous impression that there was no other like him.

Yesterday, Thomas showed up with Simeone in the press room of the Lokomotiv Stadium. Where Godin, Koke or Saul have been sitting, he was. Hierarchy high. "I've been working well for a long time and I feel more confident," he acknowledged. He already had the opportunity to leave his seal in that same venue, in 2018, during the eighth of the Europa League.

Although this Thomas, the eldest of eight brothers, has things that he did not have. He has gained in reliability and experience, without circumventing the risk of breaking enemy lines with his diagonals. Facing Juve , he ran up to 8.6 km and reached 87% efficiency in his passes. However, until he arrived here he had to convince his coach from all kinds of positions. For example, it has been 11 times right side.

When Rodri traded Madrid for Manchester last summer, few stared at Thomas. Atlético allocated almost half of the 70 million raised to bring Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid. It was even thought that Héctor Herrera ... In just over a month, despite the fact that the African Cup delayed his preseason, he has successfully assumed that pivot position from which he has become a compass. And when he has had to play another role, as in the difficult afternoon in front of Eibar, luck has smiled at him. With the freedom he usually has in his team, he completed the comeback with almost no time. It was a slalom full of vision, touch and finish.

Premiere at the Camp Nou

In the Russian capital, he will play his 25th match in the Champions League, where he landed in a hurry at the Camp Nou (2016), to contain the onslaught of Barça after the expulsion of Torres . He replaced Griezmann and Atlético, despite falling 2-1, ended up playing the final. His only goal, bittersweet, was a useless shoe against Qarabag (2017).

He shared a subsidiary with Saúl and with him he continues. He started with Óliver Torres in the youth, but football drove them away. "Thomas is growing a lot," Simeone once again praised him in the preamble of a dangerous duel, where Atlético can get into trouble. The Premier does not lose sight of him because the 50 million of his clause are today almost calderilla, although he has a contract until 2023.

"When I arrived, Simeone asked me for more rhythm and, above all, more work," he admitted in February, during an interview with EL MUNDO. «He told me to look and look at Gabi, I worked harder than young people. I always admired him and Tiago, ”he acknowledged. And today, without either of them, and with Rodri in the City, he feels free. He puts the meaning from the pivot and nobody misleads him. He knows what he has to do.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports
  • Champions League
  • Atlético de Madrid
  • Diego Simeone
  • football

Champions LeagueSimeone: "Crisitano Ronaldo is an animal of the goal, it is not easy to control him"

Champions League 2019 - 2020 Joao Felix, against Cristiano and against the first doubts

LaLigaThe Madrid derby and the wounds of a crazy night in New Jersey