Nothing sews a soccer wound better than soccer itself. Simeone knows this well, haunted since Wednesday by criticism. By the approach, fearful. For the image of the team, flat, overcome, soft. For the defeat that forces the feat (to win Porto) and to pray (to do it for one more goal than Milan if it beats Liverpool) for the round of 16. Shadows that can only temper a redemption in Cádiz (follow the game live on AS.com). The champion is not found, he does not end. His Champions phase is a scary movie (four points in five days, last). In the League, however, it goes better. He is 4th, four behind the leader (Madrid), “in an exciting situation”, which Simeone said yesterday. Yes. Although he shares problems.
Because both in Europe and in LaLiga Atleti is no longer solid and Oblak is human (1.11 goals per game). Because Llorente turns off in the right lane, Koke as a pivot and Suárez away from the area. Because the lateral centers are, to the rojiblancos, Norman Bates brandishing the knife on Psychosis: the last six goals conceded came after one. If last season he won 60.42% of the games, this does not reach 45%. Today Cádiz will not make it easy. A Cádiz trained by the second oldest coach on a Spanish bench after Cholo: Cervera, six years old. Also now in need of redemption. After the 4-0 blow against Getafe, due to the irregular start of a season that has him on the verge of relegation, 17th. Meditate on changes. He recovers Jonsson and Lozano, key and one hundred percent now, he will start with Sobrino. Fali can also enter through Cala.
The closest antecedent, the Carranza
Simeone, meanwhile, will not get João Félix back. The Portuguese did not travel although yesterday he did train with the group. Neither did Lodi (low back pain). The technician worked the last two days with an eleven which is Wednesday’s. The same. Oblak; Llorente, Savic, Giménez, Hermoso; De Paul, Koke, Lemar; Griezmann, Suárez and Carrasco. No one like them to bandage this wound. With a resounding victory that makes November just that, one more month, not definitive injuries. And scare away the shadows. Although Cádiz was already in summer the team that sneaked into the photo of De Paul’s premiere with the rojiblanca. When Carranza beat the champion. That team that comes back four months later. In need of redemption. And under the arbitration of Gil Manzano.