Atleti B gambles its future

Atlético B is at a crucial moment for its future. After two consecutive seasons contesting the playoff for promotion to Second Division, the team has gotten into a big mess in full restructuring of the competition. The multiple casualties of fundamental players, the lack of a goal and the loss of many points in the final minutes of the matches ended up causing the rojiblanco team to end in the eighth place of Group 5 of Second Division B. Something that entails fall to the Second RFEF and have to fight not to make it to the Third. He was close to avoiding it in the last day of the regular league, but it was only worth winning against Navalcarnero and, despite going ahead on the scoreboard, the final draw was insufficient to try to be next season in the First RFEF, consecutive category to the Second. In the first leg against Navalcarnero himself, one of those paranormal phenomena of the team had occurred in injury time, conceding the tying goal in the 97th minute… through goalkeeper Aitor González.

Atlético fight now so that this nightmare season be a lesser evil and do not drag the team to the Third RFEF. To do this, share a group with Las Rozas, Poblense and Getafe B, whom he does not have to face again and will face Melilla, Villarrubia, Socuéllamos and Villarrobledo in a new, very demanding phase, because of the eight participants, five will drop. The worst of the third also falls. Namely, just being first and second ensures staying in the Second RFEF. Of course, Atlético started the new phase with the 19 points it had added in the League (the fourth with the best balance, four points behind Melilla, first) and defeated Villarrubia 0-2 after having started the relegation playoff, falling against Socuéllamos (0-1). An outbreak of coronavirus in the squad led to the suspension of the match against Melilla. With a change of coach in between, since Antonio Rivas replaced Nacho Fernández on the bench after the duel against Socuéllamos, Atleti B will fight until the end to stay in the fourth category of Spanish football. The rojiblanco club has begun a phase of deep restructuring in the management positions of its grassroots football and has dispensed with several of the commands who in recent times had the reins of the quarry.

A very young team that He only keeps three players from his ideal eleven from last season. Atleti B of 2019-20 reached the stoppage due to the coronavirus health crisis as third place in their group in Second B, although they had commanded the League for much of the season and played for the second consecutive year in the playoff for promotion to Second, falling against Sabadell on penalties and being dislodged from sleep at the first time of change in the most cruel way. And, given the uncertainty that surrounded the possibility of playing this season with relative normality, Atlético advocated releasing several of its main pieces to teams of higher categories, losing very talented and experienced players.

Thus, and with the reinforcement of several of its youths that have stood out the most, such as Mario Soriano, Giuliano Simeone or Javi Serrano, Atleti B has established itself as one of the youngest teams in the category. Your ideal eleven, depending on the participation and growth of certain players, could be formed by San Román (23 years old), Camus (23), Álvaro García (20), Marco Moreno (20) or Joan Rojas (21), Medrano (21); Toni Moya (23), Calavera (21), although lately Javi Serrano (18) asks for a pass, Ricard (21), Soriano (today he turns 19); Giuliano Simeone (18) and Camello (20). That is, an eleven with an average of 20.7 years.

The Atleti B squad

Name	Age	Position	Dorsal
Miguel San Roman	23 years	Goalkeeper	1
Jaume valen	25 years	Goalkeeper	13
Christian gomez	20 years	Goalkeeper	2. 3
Alvaro Garcia	20 years	Defending	4
Adrian Corral	18 years	Defending	28
Fernando Medrano	20 years	Defending	twenty-one
Marco Moreno	20 years	Defending	3
Sergio Camus	24 years	Defending	two
Joan Rojas	21 years	Defending	5
Ricard sanchez	20 years	Defending	12
Abde Damar	21 years	Midfield player	7
Javi serrano	18 years	Midfield player	36
Ismael Gutierrez	20 years	Midfield player	17
Josep Calavera	21 years	Midfield player	6
Oscar Castro	19 years	Midfield player	16
Toni Moya	23 years	Midfield player	8
Mario Soriano	19 years	Midfield player	24
Nando gutierrez	20 years	Midfield player	eleven
Luis Forcen	20 years	Forward	twenty
Giuliano Simeone	18 years	Forward	37
Ibrahim Diabate	21 years	Forward	14
Sergio Camello	20 years	Forward	10
Marc Tenas	19 years	Forward	19
Davo fernandez	21 years	Forward	9

Among them, Camello, San Román, Toni Moya, Ricard and Mario Soriano have already debuted with the first team under the command of Simeone, all of them except Moya with minutes this season. Camello is a regular in all training sessions of the first team and a reinforcement in the calls when there are low points. Although this year it has cost him more to see the goal (he has three goals), He made his debut in the First Division with both Levante on the last league match of the 2018-19 season and has always stood out for his sense of smell and security in the area. In total he has six games 'with the elders'. Toni Moya has played five since his debut in the 2017-18 season. San Román occupied the goal in front of Cornellà, where he left two good hands despite the elimination. Same game in which Soriano debuted, pure talent and technical quality. A meeting of ungrateful memory for Ricard, who left expelled, but had previously made his debut with a great goal at Cardassar. In the League he had half an hour against Levante. Álvaro García, Adrián Corral, Óscar Castro and Calavera have been summoned by Cholo this season without making his debut, and his son Giuliano Simeone is growing by leaps and bounds, until he is tied as the team's top scorer with three goals.

Atlético has had to restructure and renew after the departure of many players from their quarry. Some who were very important last season left the club, such as Óscar Clemente, Dos Santos or Carlos Isaac, but the vast majority are on loan in higher categories. Thus, nine footballers who already know what it is to play with the first team are doing his particular erasmus mainly in Second Division ensembles. And the case of Manu Sánchez, from Primera. After spending the first half of the season under the command of Simeone already with a first-team record, Carrasco's position as left lane together with the versatility of Hermoso and the presence of Lodi left him without minutes. Osasuna, who had fought all summer to take over his services, managed to add him to their ranks in January and Manu Sánchez does not stop growing in El Sadar.

In the highest category, but from Turkey, it is Francisco Montero. Last season on loan at Deportivo, played 14 games two years ago under the command of Simeone, participating in the League, Champions and Cup. Now he plays for Besiktas, where he has exceeded 1,000 minutes. Víctor Mollejo and Darío Poveda left Getafe in the summer. In the case of Mollejo, the first debutant in the club's history born in the 21st century, his little participation with Bordalás led him to Mallorca in January, where He has already made his debut as a scorer and seeks to help the vermilion team to go up to First. Last season he had accompanied Montero at Deportivo. Poveda, who last season was uncovered as a scorer with eleven goals in his eleven games with Atleti B, has had his greatest enemy in injuries. Last season suffered a serious knee injury that left the team without its killer, which has kept him out until he was able to make his debut with Getafe's first team in March.

Another of the jewels of the red and white quarry, Rodrigo Riquelme, decided to seek a more distant destination. He headed to Bournemouth in the English second division, where he is hardened by the difficulty of gaining a place in the team. A player with fantastic individual technique. Solano went to Barcelona B, but a knee injury has not allowed him to play. In January, three other capital footballers came out for Atleti B. Borja Garcés, debutant in First with a goal against Eibar, went to Fuenlabrada, where he is taking a place in the starting scheme and already has four goals between the League and the Cup. He has also seen a goal with Tenerife Germán Valera, another of the young people with the greatest future projection. And Sanabria has already overcome his muscular problems and is ready to add minutes with Zaragoza. In addition to these nine, who already know what it is to wear the rojiblanca in an official match with Simeone, other young people like Cedric Teguia, Manu Lama, Diego Conde, Salido, Saldaña or Sergio Castel play on loan outside the club.

The big mirror of the first team in which to look at yourself wears the captain's armband. Koke made his debut with the first team on September 19, 2009 at the Camp Nou and is already the second player with the most appearances in the club's history. At the Academy since he was six years old, the Vallecano has played 495 official matches with the rojiblanca shirt and only Adelardo is ahead (550). At 29 years old, he is 'one club man' and a benchmark for any youth squad, becoming the engine of Atlético de Simeone and the only footballer who has lived through the whole stage of cholismo.

Next to him is a Saúl, who at the age of 26 has already played 330 official matches with Atlético (the nineteenth most) and that has shone for years in Simeone's midfield. Although this season is not going through its best moment, Saúl has been a model to follow for any youth player in the club. In the case of the Elche, Atlético and the player understood that the best solution for their growth was a loan to Rayo, where he left a great 2013-14 season and began to show his versatility by sharing the midfield with the defense. With Cholo he has played practically everything, always committed and leaving his skin for the team.

If Koke and Saúl are the references of the quarry in the first team, the season began with another player from the lower categories commanding the center of the field. A Thomas Partey that came out on the last day of the market after having participated in the first three days of the League and that he is one of the footballers who know the Atlético Academy and who plays in the Premier League. Arsenal took over the services of the Ghanaian by paying the 50 million of his clause when he had become an increasingly important player to Simeone.

In the 2018-19 season, Thomas he had shared midfield at Atlético with Rodrigo Hernández. The pivot returned to the club after leaving the youth quarry to go to Villarreal. His return was short-lived, a fantastic year in which he participated in 47 games, lifted the European Super Cup against Real Madrid and scored three goals. But Manchester City paid his clause of 70 million in summer and now he is a fixture in Pep Guardiola's scheme. In the same city, although in the rival team, militates David de Gea. The Manchester United goalkeeper who this season has lost his place with Dean Henderson after nine years as undisputed in the reds devils. The goalkeeper made his debut for the rojiblanco first team in September 2009, but after his second season he headed for one of England's giants.

In Germany, Lucas Hernández struggles to get stripes in the defense of Bayern Munich. Simeone always saw the great future of the Frenchman, who exploited his versatility to play as a central or left back. In his secondary position he had his first big night, on January 7, 2015 against Real Madrid. He became a starter in the 2017-18 season and his great evolution led him to the World Cup, where He lifted the title as a starter with France. He would play one last season (2018-19) before to go to Bayern Munich with only 23 years for the 80 million of his clause. His brother Theo did not make his debut with Atlético's first team. His assignment at Alavés was brilliant and Real Madrid exceeded the amount of his clause to change the rojiblanco for the white. But his experience in the maximum rival was not good. Now he stands out again in Italy, where he has taken over the position in Milan and has conquered his fans for his great offensive contribution, although he continues to suffer in defense.

Another player who wore the Atlético and Real Madrid shirt is Álvaro Morata. He left the rojiblanca quarry to the madridista, but after making his debut in the league with Madrid and also playing for Juventus and Chelsea, he returned to the team that Morata has explained is the one he has always had in his heart. He scored 22 goals in the year and a half he was at Atlético before going on loan to Juventus, where he is having a good season and it seems that the idea of ​​the three parts is that he continues to play in Serie A.

In the French league he militates Caio Henrique, who went through the mattress quarry before showing his best version in Brazil and, after the club recovered him, he was transferred in the summer to Monaco, where he has taken the place on the left side and in full growth. Manquillo also plays in England, in Newcastle; in the Bundesliga, in Mainz, is Pierre Kunde; in Italy, in the Sassuolo, Pedro Obiang, all of them connoisseurs of the club.

Although you don't have to go that far, in Spain several footballers who passed through the Atlético Academy play in the First Division. Óliver Torres y Bono (Seville), Iván Alejo y Perea (Cádiz), Roberto (Valladolid), Lucas Pérez (Alavés), Joel (Betis), Iago Herrerín (Athletic), Pulido (Huesca) or Miramón (Levante) They are active in LaLiga. In the Second Division you can see in Leganés Borja Bastón, Rubén Pérez and Cuéllar, Joaquín Muñón, Keidi and Iván Calero at Málaga, Mario Suárez at Rayo, Amath at Mallorca, Óscar Clemente (Las Palmas), Samu Sainz (Girona) or Pedro (Nàstic).

Although the youth squad who has expanded the rojiblanca flag the most around the world has been Fernando Torres, an idol and that after leaving the club in 2007 to shine at Liverpool and continue to accumulate titles at Chelsea, He returned to Atlético in January 2015 after a testimonial time at Milan and was able to lift his first title (the Europa League) with the team of his heart. El Niño retired in Japan, at Sagan Tosu, after a career marked by successes and his rojiblanco feeling. Gabi also said goodbye in an exotic league, in his case in the Qatari Al-Sadd, after wearing the captain's armband on the great nights of cholismo and as one of the players who has best represented the athletic feeling on the pitch.

Atleti B fights today not to fall into the fifth category of Spanish football, but not so long ago it reached the second. If in these last two seasons he has fought the promotion playoff, in 1996 he was able to move up to the silver category for the last time. And if it were not for the dramatic decline of the first team in 2000, which dragged the subsidiary to Second B despite the fact that it had achieved permanence by results, its stage could have been longer. And it is that Atleti B had some glorious years. After the first two seasons in the middle of the table, he finished the 1998-99 academic year as second classified in the Second Division! With 74 points and only behind Málaga.

His condition as a subsidiary team prevented him from going up to the First Division, but it was a dream season. Sequeiros finished as the second top scorer in the category with 25 goals, one less than Catanha at Malaga and the squad had players who would later make a career at the highest level as Rubén Baraja, Luis Tevenet, José Juan Luque, Pablo García, Lawal, Gaspar, Fortune or Cubillo. The following season there would be a rout in the squad, with the opportunity to play in the first team in some cases and the departure of several of the squad figures who had won the military in First. Even so, Atlético would finish seventeenth, a position that kept them in Second, but the relegation of the first team, in a squad that had Hasselbaink, Molina, Valerón, Kiko, Capdevilla, Aguilera, Solari, Santi, Baraja, Gaspar, Toni, Petete Correa and company and that was affected by the bankruptcy administration, ended up losing the category, forcing the subsidiary to go down. During those years in Segunda also passed through Atleti B footballers comor Santi Ezquerro, Ricardo, Iván Rocha, Casquero or Paunovic.

After that forced descent, the second rojiblanco team had lived with stability in the Second Division B, with a short and close parenthesis in Third. Two seasons in a lower category, in 2015-16 and 2016-17, after several years on the wire. He would not get promotion to the first exchange rate (he finished fourth), but he would do it with solvency in his second year in the fourth category, winning his group with Óscar Fernández on the bench and surpassing the Gimnástica de Torrelavega. Now he faces the abyss again, but he has in his hand the option of rebuilding from the Second RFEF or having to resurface from even lower. Meanwhile, and like the first team, only game by game is worth it.