Atlético has always advocated internal competition and, if there is a position that stands out due to its enormous and even level, it is the center of defense. Simeone has bet this season to give a even greater prominence to its centrals with a line of three behind and, since his change of system, the results have been fabulous.
The Cholo has found to the best Savic, at 30 years of age in full maturity, in outstanding physical condition and with an enormous improvement in the start played from behind. With the Montenegrin profiled on the right, Atlético have had the best possible bodyguard for Trippier and probably the best center-back in the competition, who only missed five league games, four of them by penalty. Savic finished the season with 3,744 minutes played, a figure only surpassed in the squad by Oblak (4,140).
But, if Savic has increased his presence even more in the back of the mattress, the other great leap in quality has been that of Mario Hermoso. Completely secondary in his first season at the club (he participated in 23 games and added 1,691 minutes), This course has shown itself to be brilliant in the ball exit, perfectly adapted to the left profile in the back row and with the ability to act on the side, much more comfortable than when he had had to do it in his first year. The change is drastic, going from being the fifteenth in minutes to seventh player with the most participation in Atlético with 3,019 minutes in 38 games, when last year had been the fifteenth of the table. He did not have the prize of the Eurocup, but without a doubt he could be one of those mentioned by Luis Enrique for the tournament.
In the case of Felipe, he had finished last year as one of the great rojiblancos signings and at an enormous level, something that has cost him more to achieve this campaign. The three-back system gave him a lot of headaches when he had to profile to the side, mainly to the left, being much more comfortable as a closure in the center. But, the Brazilian has been recovering his shine in the final phase of the championship, starter in the last four days with everything at stake, reaching 2,613 minutes. He ended up having his role in the league title and it served him to earn his place in the Copa América.
Hermoso and Savic congratulate each other after defeating Villarreal.
JOSE JORDAN (AFP)
A tournament in which Giménez will be, who has lived a lackluster season due to constant injuries. The Uruguayan is key whenever he is well, but physical problems have prevented him from having continuity. Giménez has also found his fit in the new defense with a great hierarchy in the center of the line of three, with its speed, melee power and strength from above that allows you to live comfortably with many meters behind you. Despite those constant brakes on his participation, he ended up with 2,115 minutes played in 26 games.
Four centrals that have once again become an insurance so that Oblak achieved his fifth Zamora and Atlético once again stood out for its defensive solvency, especially at the beginning of the course. It is very difficult to see in a team that its four centrals exceed 2,000 minutes, good proof of competitiveness and high level of Savic, Hermoso, Felipe and Giménez, leading his technician to modify the schematics to accommodate one more player. It would not be surprising that Atlético would consider having a low-profile central fifth next season, taking into account that when an injury or sanction occurred and Simeone lined up three of them, there was no replacement on the bench. In the bedroom is Nehuén Pérez, loaned to Granada and that has continued its progression, although the Argentine is one of the players with the best market to obtain an economic return when looking for a possible transfer.