Simeone knows that he has one of the fittest footballers in the squad in Carrasco, probably the most inspired player on the attack front in recent weeks, and he wants to take advantage of it at all costs. The Belgian returned to lead a good part of Atlético's attacks at the Camp Nou and Cholo sought that, as a result of Lemar's injury, was the generate the imbalance in front of the back of Barcelona from an inside position.
Although that forced him to remodel his defensive system, where Carrasco is the most prepared and used to exercising as a left lane for his ability to go and return, good defensive attitude, speed and overflow, constantly raising the band. But, without Lemar, the medium lost its most dribbling player and the idea of exploiting the space between Mingueza and Piqué was difficult and the forward pressure with a quick profile to go against it in the case of stealing.
Therefore, Simeone gave Saúl entrance at 13 minutes, but as a lane so that Carrasco was the one who was ahead of Koke and closer to Suárez with meters behind the rival defense to run to. So he could not worrying more about the defensive facet on Messi, something that had started taking care with the constant coverage also to the rises of Dest. A defensive aspect that he would exercise again with the departure of Saúl for João Félix and before the threat of Dembélé on the side.
Since the last international break, where he could not play with Belgium and returned with discomfort that prevented him from being against Sevilla, Carrasco has marked three goals and distributed four assists in five games. At the Camp Nou he could not add as Atlético did not finish breaking the scoreboard despite their good performance, but it was a constant headache that led Koeman to replace Mingueza at halftime with Araujo. In total, the Belgian accumulates five goals and eight goals in the league, a fundamental footballer in Simeone's system and that brings so many variants to him. He has been key due to his ability to play left lane, but he is very inspired when he steps into the rival area. With seven good dribbles at the Camp Nou, he carried out the same individual overflows as all his teammates together.
Carrasco finished the duel against Barcelona exhausted after great wear and tear stretching the team, looking to go into space in every offensive action and without neglecting the defensive facet both in the center of the field closest to the midfielder and as a lane during the start and end of the game. But apparently he will be in full condition to receive the Royal Society. An encounter in which Lemar is difficult to be fit and Simeone will have to choose between keeping him on the lane or continuing to approach the area. Of what there is no doubt is that Carrasco is today basic in Atlético's scheme.
A player who, after leaving for China, returned on loan in January of last year and with his good performances, upward influence and defensive wear he ended up staying for be again the best version of an unbalancing footballer, decisive and who puts his quality and work in pursuit of the team. Carrasco has been gaining gallons as the days go by and at 27 he is in the best moment of maturity of his career. A good part of Atlético's chances to score goals passes through his feet, something that is costing him without Suarez so inspired, in these last three days where he dreams of being a league champion. Balls to Carrasco, always a wise option.