Beautiful finds its place

Mario Hermoso has fit in perfectly with Atlético's new system. That or is Simeone's formation which has adapted to the characteristics of the 25-year-old player, who after a first year full of difficulties has taken a place in the eleven with an increasing responsibility in this Atleti with more possession and presence in rival field.

A line of three behind where Giménez, now injured, has served as vertex, Savic has shifted to the right to cover Trippier's back and Hermoso has earned a spot pulled to the left for start the rojiblancos attacks and be the player with the greatest ability to break lines from behind on one side where Carrasco, João Félix and Koke fall, probably the three best Atletico players so far this year.

The presence of Hermoso gives the team a great foot in their defense, capable of seeing the gaps between rival lines Or to change bands looking for Trippier on the opposite side, something that makes the opponent's coverage very difficult. In addition, its presence together with two other central category allows to release the movement of one of the pivots, either Saúl or Koke, who is usually in charge of getting down to receive, aware that there is a seat belt behind.

Beautiful arrived with the band of natural substitute for Lucas, with the ability to act as a left back or center back. However on the side, when you have to lose more of the site and go away from your own area, suffers from fast extremes, what has been solved with the presence of a lane at his side (usually Carrasco, but Vitolo, Saúl or Lodi have also played there). As a winger he had played for Valladolid (2015-16 season), the next league rival, but without being a decisive player in attack. At Espanyol he established himself as a central defender, his natural position, before earning his move to Atlético.

And that is where he is showing his best qualities. More sheltered by the presence of two forceful companions at his side and with the freedom to get off the hook if you see the opportunity to steal in rival field, as he did several times successfully against Bayern. Hermoso began to alternate the position with Lodi, with the Brazilian in defense of four for the Champions League and when the '22' entered with the three centrals in the League. But this second option is the one that is giving the team the most revenue and has already been transferred to European competition as well.

Hermoso has started in eight games this season and the team has only conceded two goals, Müller's from a penalty and Budimir's with Osasuna. An extraordinary reliability despite having in front of packaging equipment of the Bayern, Barcelona, ​​Valencia or Celta. Against the German team, current Champions of the Champions League, he completed 54 passes, the second most of the team after Koke, with an accuracy of 93.1%, where 22 of them were in the opposite field. A new system that works like a glove for the defender and that has been developed with such success in part thanks to its characteristics, which give this Atlético a huge plus of possession and arrival.