Unknown
Cholo has a drink in this match between Cups, the King’s Cup, the Super Cup. His name is Villarreal, one of the teams that dig into his heel as an eight-thousand-size china. And that, in the ten years that the coach has been on the Atleti bench, his second game, the first at home, was a mirage. 3-0 at Villarreal. It has not been routine. Emery’s is one of the teams that choke him: only a 37% win rate (7) in 19 games. An Atleti who is looking today for the same as Villarreal: confirmation of his change in LaLiga.
Because 2022 began and the rojiblancos, at last, were able to change the haggard gesture with which they had ended 2021, four defeats in the League, embraced by two Rayos (Vallecano and Majadahona) to that system that screams cholismo: 4-4-2. Atleti found their balance and was reunited with victory. A 4-4-2 in which Carrasco on the right powers Llorente lateral and Lodi, on the left, gives flight. Cholo has five casualties: Trippier who will not return; Suárez and Giménez sanctioned; Savic and It bites, injured. The relapse of the last one, at 19 ‘of playing again, hurts. He is a key man and La Cerámica is one of the games that scores, sensations, ambitions, and then comes the fight for the first title, that Super Cup.
The great doubt of Cholo is in the middle, with Koke back. Because Kondogbia and De Paul have excelled, one sweeping, the other pitching, in two games without him. But the captain is a guide for the Cholo, although he is far from his best level, Koke is always a wall of load and a lantern. One of the three can sit. Above, Correa and João seem like the couple. The first, after a double in the league. The second, after dazzling in his minutes in the Cup.
Many casualties but with Gerard Moreno
And it is above where the casualties weigh down Emery who, in his career, only beat Atleti three times, all before Cholo. An Emery with ten casualties, between injuries and the Africa Cup, focused on his attack. He only has Raba, the last to arrive, and Gerard Moreno, who alone is already a lot of Gerard: the best Spanish striker and a source of goal since he returned from injury, 7 in four games. His problem is on the right, whether to locate Alberto Moreno as a winger or trust the band to Estupiñán and Pedraza or Estupiñán and Trigueros. The elimination in Copa can hurt but less than not confirming on which night it is due, today, that aspires to Europe. Nothing ago was ten points, one world. Today, if he wins, he will have two.