In search of the lost game

Atlético has lost control of the game. The rojiblanco team made a huge leap in quality last season in the engine room, with a fantastic Koke starting the plays from the pivot, Llorente with his ability to arrive to wreck rival defenses and Lemar going down to receive and breaking lines in his best course as a mattress maker. Also the appearances of Herrera, Kondogbia, Saúl and Torreira they added work and kilometers to close the games.

However, that control of possession, incisive pressure and government and command in games with and without the ball, With the ability to play what Simeone wanted from the bench, this course is not taking shape. Despite the arrival of Rodrigo de Paul, a great player with an extraordinary Copa América as the best endorsement, Cholo has been changing his formation, with three in the middle, a double pivot and two interior workers, Griezmann falling to the midfielder … but he did not find the key.

Koke’s slump is weighing on a team that relies heavily on its captain to increase the pace of play and speed to break lines. Llorente is being forced to occupy the right side due to the absences of Trippier and Vrsaljko and Atlético thus renounces the physicality and game of their second top scorer and top assistant last season. Kondogbia has to act as an emergency centerDe Paul is improving, but he is not yet settled as in Argentina, Lemar has suffered injuries that have slowed his continuity, Herrera hardly has opportunities …

And if the center of the field fails, the whole team suffers. The defensive fragility is amplified and in attack it has been difficult to score goals in the games of maximum difficulty. At the Santiago Bernabéu, an error in Koke’s pass turned into a robbery by Modric, who mounted a very fast counter. Vinicius crossed and Benzema hit the penalty spot between five rojiblancos without any mark, despite the fact that he was the only possible finisher. A new game where the first rival arrival became a goal. In the second goal for Real Madrid, Atlético came uncoordinated to the pressure and with a simple long pass they broke lines to plant themselves in the mattress area with plenty of space.

Two fleeting moments of Real Madrid served him to score two goals and later the white team lived very calm managing the game, keeping the ball and ensuring that things did not happen despite the impetus of João Félix and Lemar to contribute something different. In Porto, the double pivot formed by Koke and De Paul had also suffered a lot in the first half, when Oblak was key to reaching the break in advantage. Rival intensity and numerical superiority, as experienced against Casemiro, Kroos and Modric, It causes the Atlético midfielders to arrive late and uncoordinated to the pressure and fail to take over the games.

And yesterday Koke, indisputable for Simeone despite the drop in level, could not exercise with the group due to a feverish process with tenths of fever. Casualties pile up for Simeone, who has lost Griezmann and is still low in defense (son of Giménez, Savic is not Vrsaljko). Atlético visit Sevilla and have to correct mistakes and become stronger also in the middle to compete with a team that increases its performance at home a lot. Trippier’s return to the call for the derby brings Llorente’s release closer to midfield. Kondogbia can also raise his position to the pivot against his former team and Herrera win gallons, since last season when Simeone needed the Mexican he gave a good version. Atlético need to find themselves in the middle to clarify their game and time is running out to achieve it.