Joao Félix's umpteenth anger, Simeone's explanation and Atlético's accounts: "Ask him"

• Chronicle Atlético's impetus dresses up in drama

• Group B Results and classification

The night at the Metropolitano left as much hope for the ardor recovered as deep concern for the panorama that is now presented to Atlético in the Champions League.

summed up

the evidence, put quotes in the first part of the answer: "The only good thing is that we have to win both games."

Four duels, one win, two goals, four points.

Again the mess to be in eighths, tradition in recent seasons.

But beyond the missed chances, the avalanche that at times was Atlético against Bruges, the image of the game was that of another anger.

The umpteenth of

, who insists on not hiding his frustration, on not knowing how to manage the inconveniences.

Sins of youth, although his disagreement with Simeone is no longer a rumour.

If in the last three games, lost ownership, he had barely appeared in the final minutes, this time he did not even jump onto the Cívitas pitch, despite his team's need to score.

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Champions League.

Joao Félix and the promise that is not fulfilled: Simeone's errands and a ballast of 127 million

• Drafting: LUCAS SÁEZ-BRAVOMadrid

Joao Félix and the promise that is not fulfilled: Simeone's errands and a ballast of 127 million

He warmed up on the wing for almost the entire second half, but he watched the chances of jumping onto the field pass by like someone who sees trains leaving on the horizon.

The fact is that Simeone clearly hesitated to put him into action.

In the second round of changes, the Portuguese was called along with

, but at the last minute Cholo stopped his appearance.

It was the first moment of fuss.

Later, almost in the 80th minute, after two Bruges stretches in which Simeone sensed a defeat that would have been condemnation, the Argentine coach preferred to bring in

.

Then, yes, Joao's fury exploded.

That he, on the way to the bench, he threw the warm-up bib on the grass.

Later, after the tie, when all the athletic players jumped to thank the stands, he did not appear.

Cholo preferred to explain in football terms the reason for Joao's non-appearance and did not want to enter into the controversy of his gestures, which are not new.

"Everything later... I didn't see it. I have nothing to say," he concluded, although he had previously said on Movistar's microphones: "Ask him."

He also clarified his decisions: "I saw that they still had the strength to go on the counterattack. Anxiety was leading us to want to win and attack. I saw that the strength in midfield could generate more security for us. That's why Witsel came in. It went well , for what we were looking for".

In the morning,

had tried to put some calm to an issue that threatens to cloud the rojiblanco dressing room.

"We don't fear anything, [Joao] is an Atlético player, a magnificent player with a very long contract. We are delighted with him and we have to keep in mind that there are people who adapt quickly and others who take longer, but I think he will succeed here with the great quality and category that it has", pronounced the president.

0-3 at Leverkusen

Atlético, who have not been able to finish a group stage as leader since 2017 - "we have spent seasons that it is costing us to be in the second round. There the team competes better, in duels. But the numbers don't lie", acknowledged Simeone-, as always did in the first four seasons of Cholo, awaited the result of the other group match.

I would have preferred a draw, but Porto's convincing victory in Germany (0-3) now leaves them third in a group that Brugge clearly leads with 10 points.

Winning

's Bayer in the Metropolitano in two weeks is the obligatory step to play (another) final in Do Dragao on November 1, although mathematically they can no longer be first in the group.

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