For Atlético it was one of the most iconic images of the last League that, fortunately for the rojiblancos and for the protagonists, had a happy ending. The team, then leader, suffered the unspeakable against Betis, but in the final stretch, with 1-1, Correa had two clear occasions that could give his team the victory and a lot of air, overwhelmed in qualifying. The Argentine (who had given the assistance to Carrasco) was KO in the field, because neither had he been fine in front of goal in other recent games (Seville and Levante, especially). Simeone realized it and, on the Villamarín lawn, waited for 10 to give him a hug and tell him that “the goals will come, the work pays”. The following was Atlético-Eibar and a double by Correa made it 2-0 before the break. The Argentine had awakened.
El Cholo did not despair and his confidence towards the forward was full. The Correa-Suárez society settled ahead of João Félix and the Argentine responded with decisive goals. After that duel with Betis there were eight games left and Angelito, who was a starter in all of them, got five goals, the most special that of pinpoint in Valladolid, when the League slipped through Atleti’s fingers. The disappointment of the visit to Betis was the turning point for a decisive footballer in the final stretch of the season.
Equally, Correa was decisive in the start of this League, with goals against Celta (2) and Elche. However, his role has changed again. The arrival of Griezmann and the growth of João Félix have complicated his situation in the team. “We talk a lot with him. He started the season very well and he will be decisive as he has always been. He is very important for the team,” Simeone analyzed in the run-up to the visit to Levante. Correa, since the September break, has not celebrated any goals or assists, but Cholo asks him for peace of mind and wants to give him confidence.
FOOTBALL19/20
CHEMA DIAZ (DIARIO AS)
This afternoon Correa will have minutes again. The 10th patiently waits for his moment to come, as he has done on other occasions, and that Betis is the turning point to be decisive in this Atlético. Before the Verdiblancos, by the way, he has had performances of note: resolved the Atleti-Betis of 18-19 (1-0) and the visit to Villamarín of 19-20 (goal and assistance to Morata).