“Joao he has to repeat performances like the one at the Bernabéu, where he showed all the talent he has because he is the footballer we need. What happens to him in Portugal happens to him here, there is the maturation, the rebellion and the regularity that football demands. ” Diego Simeone, coach of the Atlético de Madrid, before visiting the Sánchez Pizjuán.
There, Joao Félix became a substitute again. Like at the Bernabéu. In Seville, the Portuguese took the field after the break. Like in the derby. Against the Hispanics, the team improved in attack with their departure. As before the eternal rival. But…
But the eternal debate on the ownership of Joao Félix continues to write chapters, with increasingly conflicting positions between those who defend that it should have more prominence in this Atlético and those who believe that it should offer more before returning to that role. Because the Portuguese was a starter last year in a first round of record. The best of the Simeone era. 50 points achieved the mattress box with him with the title tag.
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Then came the ankle injury. The lack of continuity caused by these physical problems and the irregularity were the predominant note of his performance. Something that has been kept once recovered. Competition increased after the arrivals of Griezmann Y Cunha on the offensive plot. And since Joao has not knocked down the door this course, his minutes are not being the expected ones.
He has played 14 games this season, six of them as a starter, and has only managed one goal and given two assists. Its quality is beyond doubt. As we said, the team improved in attack with their entry both at the Bernabéu and at the Pizjuán. He brushed the goal in both games, without success, but the truth is that Atlético seemed another with him on the field.
A lot of quality, but …
However, there are many who continue to miss more character on their part. As in the second goal of Sevilla, not overcoming Ocampos. Or trying. And also to disconnect in sets of the game. It is his personality and out there it seems difficult for him to change. There is debate about his ownership, but also about whether the team needs his talent, or if without improving in the defensive field he cannot play in the mattress box. As usual, Simeone, who described his performance at Pizjuán as good, will decide.
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