Without Joao Félix, low by sanction for San Mamés, and with the doubt of the Argentine Angel
belt, with a muscle injury,
Thomas Lemar
appeared this Monday as an alternative to Diego Simeone in the face of these eventualities as a partner in the attack of Diego Costa for the resumption of The league against him Athletic Club, as he rehearsed in a part of the morning session, in which there were no more news in the probable eleven.
The rest of the members of the possible starting lineup in Bilbao were the same as the group with which the Argentine coach worked in the middle of last week: the defenders Kieran Trippier, Stefan Savic, José María Giménez and Renan Lodi; the midfielders Marcos Llorente, Saúl Ñíguez, Thomas Partey and Koke Resurrección; and the attacker Diego
Coast, in addition to Lemar. In the previous week, Correa had been part of the eleven until he was injured.
The Argentine attacker suffered a muscle ailment in the session last Tuesday, since then he is in the process of recovery and “pending evolution.” Two weeks after the reunion with The league, the soccer player is doubt for the shock. Joao
Felix, who would be the starter there under normal conditions, is low due to suspension, apart from recovering from a sprained left knee. This Monday he already jumped into the field to make a career on the sidelines.
Álvaro Morata, Víctor Machín, ‘Vitolo’, or Yannick Carrasco, who have already played up front with Diego
Simeone as a coach, even this season, there are other possible options to fill that space, but for the moment take advantage Lemar, judging by one of the training tests. It is the one that appears as the main alternative, although there are still 13 days to assemble the eleven and the call for the visit to Bilbao.
At least that pointed out the first session without numerical limitation due to the pandemic of the covid-19. The ‘de-escalation’ process began with the individual trainings, continued with the groups of ten and advanced to those of 14. This Monday was the first collective work with all at once, although not all were available, once Joao Félix, belt and Sime
Vrsaljko they recover from different ailments. The Croatian winger, who underwent an arthroscopy scheduled 10 days ago to remove material from surgery on his left knee last February, is also a doubt for the start of the championship.
“I am very happy to be able to train with everyone, to feel the group again now. The team is fine. We have worked hard and we are still doing it to prepare for the first game, “he explained Carrasco at the end of the morning session, in statements provided by the
Atlético de Madrid.
Yes Lemar is finally chosen for eleven,
Simeone will insist on a player who in January was more outside than inside of the team, at least according to the purpose of the club to sign the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani from the Paris Saint Germain, since he needed an exit to adapt to the salary limit if he brought the Uruguayan striker and all the lights pointed to the French international.
“Lemar It has characteristics that many footballers do not have on campus (…). Now, if you can stay or not, we know that the representatives work brilliantly and the clubs go according to their needs, “he said then, on January 3, Diego
Simeone.
“I speak of the soccer player and as a soccer player the facts speak for themselves; every time he was available he has played much more than he has not, because his characteristics have always excited me. Later, he has not been able to respond in consequence of those expectations, but the expectation is, of course, ”said the coach.
REACTIVATION AGAINST LIVERPOOL
He did not play in all that January, due to a muscle injury, but in those qualities, undoubtedly in the Monaco and still to be confirmed at Atlético, in addition to the positioning and the defensive involvement to which it applies Lemar, the coach abounded to quickly return him to the field.
As soon as it was available, in the derby in front of the Real Madrid, was reused again. His appearance on the field of the stadium Santiago
Bernabéu for the last 33 minutes he was the image of a player without confidence, deconcentrated in the markings – in the play of the goal of defeat, for example – and visibly, perhaps more than ever in the Athletic, fearful with the ball.
But the coach undoubtedly reactivated it later: his bet on him, when no one guessed it, for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League against Liverpool in the Wanda
Metropolitan.
At rest he was replaced by a muscle injury from which he is fully recovered. Already in Anfield He held a position among the 18 elected, newly restored from that ailment.
And will it be a starter in San Mamés? At the moment it is an alternative, in a moment of invariable transcendence for an extreme that still, today, a year and a half after entering the Athletic, nor has it come close to expectations: 67 games, three goals, four assists … He has not scored or given any goals this year, after 24 duels, eleven starts and nothing more than a full one.