• Chronicle: Atlético lives another tragedy in Lisbon

A year ago, Atlético was preparing the league debut against Getafe. He had the heartbeat and illusion fired by a dazzling preseason. They had torn Real Madrid to pieces, in that derby to remember in New Jersey (3-7), and they had just sent Juventus to the canvas. In addition, the first glimpses of Joao Félix, the boy with the record transfer (126 million) who arrived to erase the scar left by Griezmann , had been perceived . Giménez , one of the new captains, heir to the spirit of his friend Godín , was convinced that everything would come out to order. “We have a very good team, there is a lot of speed and we can take advantage of it. Other years there was more capacity for sacrifice, "he revealed in an interview with EL MUNDO.

A year later, the Uruguayan central defender nailed his face on the rough meadow of José Alvalade, like the rest of his teammates. A priori, reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League would not have been a small thing for a team in reconstruction. However, falling against Leipzig, with a Champions League final phase that seemed made to measure, it is. Now come a few days of vacation and a short time to reflect on the causes of the tragedy.

TRANSITION.

This Atlético is not understood without the word transition next to it. Simeone has not stopped repeating it and has insisted on that idea throughout the course. As soon as Juanfran, Godín and Filipe Luis had packed their bags, and with Griezmann still waiting for the Barcelona check, the coach warned about what could appear around the corner. A staff with an average age of 25.5 years had to sustain the legacy of that group in which Koke or Saúl grew up. On Thursday, Cholo's only happy idea was to remember Joao Félix in time . It was not enough. «It has been a very strange season, of comings and goings. You have to stabilize once and for all, "they repeated from the club, after the slap against Leipzig. The team was diluted again in front of a rival as spirited as it was organized. The radiant Champions League tie against Liverpool , which also stripped them for a good part of the two games, and the firm final sprint in LaLiga, had sweetened a season in which they saw their ticket to the Champions really endangered and was marked by that blush cupbearer in León, at the start of the year. Penalties from that Super Cup in Arabia, in the final against Real Madrid, didn't help either. It is not the same to start growing with a title under your arm.

MEDULAR STAGNATED.

When Gabi stormed off in the summer of 2018, Rodri took a leap into midfield. He added new concepts and became untouchable. When Rodri left (also a bit by surprise) in the summer of 2018, neither Héctor Herrera nor Marcos Llorente contributed anything to the rojiblanco center of gravity. The Madrilenian exploded as a second striker, freed from the tactical corsets required by Simeone's drawing, but he never shone executing the mission for which he had been signed. And the Mexican, who presented himself with the hierarchy and experience of being captain in Porto, closed the course like a castaway among the Leipzig sharks. His presence was not known until he was replaced. In total, 30 games and just a couple of small notches. A Thomas , imposing at the start of season, physicist left him lying on more important day.

JOAO'S INTERMITTENCE.

He landed in LaLiga with a galactic stampede against Getafe. She lifted the Metropolitan by dodging opponents and levitating on the grass from the center of the field to the area, where she was knocked down. It was his first official label as a rojiblanco. Intermittently he has been spreading details of genius, such as the play with which he forced the penalty in Lisbon, which seemed to change the fate of his team. Yes, he was missed at José Alvalade. Although if he only spent half an hour on the grass, it is largely due to the irregularity that he has shown during his first year. In the resumption of LaLiga after the break by the Covid-19, he barely left a couple of nights to remember, like that in Pamplona, ​​where he signed his first and only double. Even so, and despite his two and a half months out due to three different injuries, he has finished with nine goals and three assists. Far, yes, from the numbers that Griezmann used to sign.

SUFFERING BEFORE THE GOAL.

Except for that magical season 13/14 (116) or 16/17 (106), Atlético de Simeone's goals have never fallen out of his pockets. But this year the suffering has been even greater. 67 in 50 games. 20 of them, in the last 12 duels after the stoppage due to the coronavirus. The worst scoring balance since the arrival of the Argentine in 2011. Morata reached his 16 goals, but Diego Costa , who had surgery for a herniated cervical disc, was far from what he aimed in preseason and only scored five. Against Leipzig, he was devoured by the powerful Upamecano center-back and did not even shoot on goal. And the tall Saponjic , reportedly signed as an alternative above, completed the course with 64 minutes spread over three afternoons. An unsolved mystery of yours. Had Edinson Cavani arrived in January, he might not be there. But that is another story.

AN ATYPICAL MARKET.

Like so many other teams, Atlético will hardly be able to make a move in the market. «The box is as is. We have no margin ”, they recognize in the club, which had to resort to an ERTE in April to try to balance the accounts. Everything will depend on whether there is any way out that frees up the salary mass and allows a formula to be invented with which to face the operation. In the form of an assignment, delaying the execution of the purchase for at least one year, as has happened with Morata. The 10 million charged by Diego Costa, whose contract expires in less than a year, make him one of the main candidates to start marketing. In Qatar they are eager to have the forward. Nor is it clear the future of Thomas , whose clause (50 million) has sharp nails to some Premier teams. Lemar , who was already guessed out in January and still shows no signs of life, may be another bargaining chip.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports
  • soccer

ChampionsVarane raises the sword of the white 'harakiri' in the Etihad

FútbolDavid Villa, investigated in New York for alleged sexual harassment

FootballThe option of the five changes is extended until next season

See links of interest

  • Last minute
  • Spanish translator
  • Programming
  • 2020 calendar
  • Horoscope today
  • League classification
  • Santander League Calendar
  • Movies Today
  • Topics
  • Leipzig - Atlético de Madrid, live