Thomas Lemar knows that he is facing his moment and does not want to lose those minutes and relevance in Simeone's scheme that he has had so hard to achieve. The Frenchman made a leap in his performance last season and ended up being very important for Atlético to reach the league title and achieve continuity in his game by advocating for possession and the clean output of the ball.
A injury at the Camp Nou took him off the pitch in the first half of a fundamental game and prevented him from participating in the last three days, a nailed thorn that could be removed celebrating the championship in style. But, back in the group after playing the Eurocup, he wants to make it clear that has not lost that status that once seemed impossible for him to achieve. His stage at Atlético had run aground, Simeone defended his minutes won based on effort in training, but could not capture it on the grass.
But nevertheless, neither player nor coach gave up. Lots of talks, returns to your ideal position and hours of tactical application led to find the best Lemar playing on the inside, coming into contact with the ball a lot, but without losing sight of defensive obligations. Sometimes as a left-winger and showing personality in matches of maximum difficulty such as in the tie against Chelsea, Lemar has found himself again and at 25 he is facing a fundamental season. De Paul has come to the team to increase internal competition, Kondgobia asks for a step every time he plays and Koke and Llorente are indisputable, but the French is not going to sell his position easily.
In Balaídos generated the first goal of the game with an unchecked inside to receive from Hermoso and put one more march to face, haggle and yield to Correa at the right time, who defined the squad with a fantastic shot. Lemar added his first assistance of the season and was once again important in pressure, collective work and understanding with Saúl, that despite playing as a lane player, he tended to move towards the center (as he generated Correa's second goal) leaving Lemar open to the left wing covering his back.
The Frenchman has freed himself, It no longer seems to weigh that backpack that he had on his arrival due to its high price (the most expensive signing of the club until the arrival of João Félix) and he has total confidence in his football and the support of Simeone to continue progressing. Yet It has to be something more decisive in the final meters (last year he scored two goals and four assists), but the course has started on the right foot. In his fourth season, Lemar wants to make it clear that he is prepared to be the protagonist in a champion team, this may be his year.