There can be little greater honor for a youth squad to get represent all the fans and the shield you wear as a fan on the field. Something that only a select few can boast of and among whom, with effort, sweat and tears, has managed to establish Koke, the athletic emblem in the Eurocup.
If a few years ago whistles were heard from a tiny part of the Wanda Metropolitano audience, one of those incongruities of football where sometimes it seems that someone from the house has to show more than any newcomer to win the applause, the Atlético captain has added to his irrefutable commitment a commendable leadership. The captain in charge of lifting the eleventh Atletico League has transferred the bracelet, without having to wear it, to the National Team.
The defeat of Spain on penalties in the semi-finals of the competition against Italy left Koke and Llorente without the option to complete a double that he does have Trippier at his fingertips (Correa and Lodi can do it with the America's Cup). But, also in bad times, Luis Enrique's team and Koke's figure emerged with a sense of pride. For leaving his skin on the field, leading an a priori superior team to exhaustion and putting his heart in search of victory.
Koke starts his vacation, while the Atlético squad without an international tournament has already started the preseason, and you will enjoy a few weeks off after adding to your 3,688 minutes with the rojiblanco team another 858 minutes with the National Team, 483 in the Eurocup. A dream 2020-21 season, with 4,546 minutes in his legs in which he has matured and consolidated in the Atlético midfield. Simeone was macerated his presence between the band and the middle until give this course the keys to the engine room from the pivot. Koke has had to adapt to a darker job, stepping on the rival area less times, but with maximum relevance in the team, preventing him from splitting and allowing Simeone to line up a very offensive scheme and with greater taste for possession and controlled ball output from behind.
And with the National Team it had been difficult for him to win over Luis Enrique in the first lists, but he has ended up becoming an indisputable one for the Asturian. A starter in all of Spain's matches in the Eurocup, the midfield formed together with Busquets and Pedri has been one of the best in the tournament, beating the rival average in all matches. Tactically outstanding, Koke returned to a position a few meters ahead, trying to exploit his last pass and arrival from the second row. If with Atlético he has shown what a captain should be in victory, with the National Team he has done it in defeat, being the first to console his teammates after the penalty shoot-out and give encouragement while thinking about the future.
At 29 years old, Koke will be one of the last footballers to join the job, but with the idea of arriving in full condition at the start of the League in Balaídos (August 15). With 502 official matches played with the Atlético jersey, Koke is already the second player with the most matches played in the club's history and is 48 away from matching Adelardo, figure that could reach the next season or more likely the next. The Vallecano has earned a break, recharge the batteries before a demanding new season where the big dream is to repeat the success achieved with the league title. Koke was in charge of giving strength to the squad when the championship got complicated and if on occasions his character had been doubted to lead the team, This season he has taken a leap in that direction. The captain and Atlético go hand in hand.