“Lemar plays very well. We do not have footballers in the squad who have speed and the construction that he has. Hopefully we can give him the confidence he needs to pass on what he has“They were Simeone's words after Atlético's victory at Mestalla, game in which the awakening of a Lemar who had been asleep for a long time began.
The French took a big step back last season, when he had to explode as a rojiblanco once his year of acclimatization was completed. However, it was the opposite. Timorato with the ball, he was wasting the opportunities of Cholo until he was relegated to the bench, ending the season without a goal or an assist in 29 games. Atlético put him on the market during the summer, but no offer came close to the investment made by the 25-year-old. (70 million for 70% of the pass).
But Simeone was clear that if Lemar stayed, she would still count on him. And although his presence in the first matches was testimonial, the Frenchman is growing a lot in this period of the season. The turning point could be against Salzburg, when Luis Suárez entered in the 82nd minute with the score tied and the imperative need to win and gave the assist for João Félix's goal that left the rojiblanco team three points. Thus ended 18 months without participating with the last pass or the definition in a goal and felt a release that can be decisive.
Because part of Lemar's underperformance last season seemed come motivated by a lack of confidence in his game. A footballer who needs to handle the ball, drive and feel decisive in the mattress attack. And so it has been since that day. The Frenchman was the best against Valencia and had the goal award against Valladolid, playing in the second half in the left wing position where he has been very comfortable. Simeone always asks his players to squeeze the minutes they have, quality of minutes beyond their quantity.
And there Lemar is becoming strong. Against Bayern he came in in the 87th minute immediately after Müller's equalizing goal. And in the moments that he was on the grass put a great center for the header of Hermoso and combed the ball in a play that Felipe could not finish. Little more could be asked of him in the time he had. In the derby against Real Madrid he jumped to the green at halftime to give the team one more gear. His first action cost him the yellow for a great squad on Casemiro, but he tried to throw the team on his back offering with continuity and generating two of the only three team chances in the entire game.
More and more protagonist
He failed to find a goal in a play similar to that of the goal against Valladolid, but he finished off Llorente's great cross at the far post outside the net. A goal would have meant a draw and completely change the course of the match. It did not come, but it did not stop showing itself. I asked for it and tried to take another step to stretch a very withdrawn team. After several dribbles he returned to look for the goal in the last minutes with a shot that went over the top. His entry was one of the best news in the gray rojiblanco match.
Now the cup is coming, a tournament where apparently Lemar will have to be the protagonist. At the moment he has already become one more in the rotation and has been gaining places among the priorities for Simeone. The trust deposited by the Cholo is being answered what if recovers a footballer with such characteristics It will be a great leap for Atlético. Its technical quality is undoubted. Lemar is still on time, a world champion gone downhill, but wanting to show that he has a lot of football in his boots to deliver to the Atlético fans.