Rodrigo de Paul has won over Atlético’s dressing room. The Argentine arrived in summer after curdling an extraordinary Copa América, lifting the title as probably the best player in the final against Brazil. And from the first day as a rojiblanco He has sought to earn a place in Simeone’s scheme with humility and work.
Match by match, De Paul’s influence has increased to become a fixture in the double pivot with Koke, waiting to see how the midfield evolves when Llorente can return to advance his position and stop acting as a patch on the right side. If in the last games De Paul had been Simeone’s usual change in the second half, worsening the result several times when the Argentine left the field (Valencia, Milan, Mallorca…), the scene at the end of the duel against Porto was propitious for him.
The party had been getting muddy, a strong leg, character and physique were needed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League and there De Paul is an expert. The Argentine, who like Koke suffered to gain control of the game during the first half against the Portuguese intensity, went from less to more and ended up devouring the center of the field. The third goal is the best example of his claw and hunger, going to press despite the 0-2 score, stealing, putting the pass back to Griezmann and taking advantage of the clearance to get his first goal as rojiblanco.
The sentence and an individual award for faith and not giving a ball for lost. De Paul recovered 14 balls, the one that most of the game, was also the one that completed the most passes at Atlético (26), measured himself in eleven hand-to-hand duels, made three successful innings and cleared seven balls. This most talented Atlético needed character on stage and hot moments as happened in Do Dragao, he had lost Luis Suárez, in the first half Milan’s opening goal made things even more complicated… and having De Paul is an added value. A player who transmits cholismo and a character and intensity in the center of the field that Atlético had been losing with the departure of Gabi. Still growing and looking for that De Paul of the national team, the Argentine is a player of great games.