“Now it’s time to be together and chew the fight”. Rodrigo de Paul himself did it while saying these words, once the Valencia-Atlético had finished in a draw that tasted so much like defeat in his mouth, on his legs. A 3-3 in 97 ‘when six minutes before the rojiblancos won 1-3. The midfielder, who was returning to Mestalla, in addition, in this match, light years away from the footballer who had worn the che shirt five years ago, a bland extreme then, a total midfielder now, was one of the most prominent of the match. Again.
From stop to stop, the results have not accompanied Atlético (only one victory, three draws, two defeats) but the talent of the Argentine is becoming indisputable, shortening Cholo’s military as no signing has done before. Neither João Félix nor Griezmann, for example. He is already emerging at Atlético as the figure he is in the Argentine team: absolute midfielder. Rhythm, vision and game.
From stop to stop
Atlético has played six games since the players came with their national teams in the October break, just after the game against Barça at the Metropolitano, which the rojiblancos won with force, and De Paul started five of them. Against Betis, Atlético’s only victory in these games, his recital was such that the stands of the rojiblanco field dedicated a standing ovation to him, when in the 87th minute, Simeone changed him. He is the ninth field footballer with the most minutes (887 ‘), striking because, I write, he has just arrived but the Cholo military has already passed, that period of adaptation that all players who arrive at Atleti must overcome. De Paul is the Simeone in 4K. The Simeone of the XXI century.
In Valencia he was once again one of the most prominent rojiblancos. In the first part with constant game and rhythm changes, with the ambition to overcome and break lines. He recovered eleven balls, the rojiblanco the most. When Simeone withdrew him from the field, after suffering a blow, he could influence, Atlético still won 1-3. The time in which De Paul was absent on the field were those two points, that victory, with two goals in six minutes that seem unthinkable if the Argentine had continued.