“In these situations where bad streaks and results accompany you you think too much. And sometimes that thought leads you to have a hard time.” Streaks, results, a situation that paints coarse on an Atleti that does not reactwho lives the unknown with Cholo: a crisis that does not end. 39 points out of 72, 34 goals conceded, seven defeats already. And worse sensations. An Atleti on the verge of a nervous breakdown. An Atleti who, with no time to heal Levante’s deep wound, travels to El Sadar, runs into Osasuna (follow the match live on As.com).
“Last year the team started the game and bit. Today you see an Atlético with great players, but to win you have to generate something, be forceful, defend well“. And that doesn’t happen anymore. The COVID, from which Hermoso and Carrasco come out. Farewells (Trippier), arrivals, injuries, players who do not settle (From Paul, who will not be here today, by the way, he has a cycle)long lows (Wass and Cunha, the last, knee). The game, great pitch, no midfield, weak at the back, shipwrecked forwards, cloud more human than ever. Reactionless. Not Griezmann. Until today. Because today, a month and a half after his injury, the Frenchman will return. A few minutes, ready for another battle to come. United, the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
“I don’t believe in luck, luck is accompanied by what one does. Nothing falls from the sky.” Only one game out of 12 has Simeone lost against Osasuna. El Sadar, 2014. An Osasuna who presses high, who will jump with eleven gala (only Rubén García is in doubt), what get Barja and Aridane back. An Osasuna that at home they have only won two gamess this year, recovered from a slump: his the last seven points of nine.
“It goes through a mental issue, through a matter of convincing us that we are what we are and that we are capable of doing”. A party to which those of Cholo travel with those words in their heads, those of Giménez after the 3-2 against Valencia, which was not a turning point. Neither Porto nor Getafe. “But if we convince ourselves that we can do it, it can be done.” Giménez also said it. Make of the coarse sawdust that is blown and leaves.