Llorente’s slump

Marcos Llorente must return to the right side against Cádiz. Simeone has no choice after Vrsaljko’s injury against Betis. Wass has not yet returned (knee injury in his debut as an rojiblanco, at the Camp Nou, February 6). A position, in defense, that the ’14’ does not like but it does not suit him either. Analyzed your data from Olocip artificial intelligence are meridians. This 2021-22, Llorente has not scored yet. Last time he made double figures, 13 goals and 12 assists, being one of the most decisive footballers for Simeone and for the conquest of the league title. But then his minutes on the right side were 10% (303′ of 3,029′). This is more than half, 53% (866′ of 1,047′).

Photo by Marcos Llorente

“Last year he generated a value per game of +0.37; now he averages a value of +0.08 per 90′. While last season he generated a difference of 1 goal for Atleti every less than 3 games; currently he needs almost 13 games”. Something that is also recorded in the drop in his market value on Transfermarkt, from 78 to 52 million. “Last season was one of the big culprits that Atlético became champion. He led Atlético offensively and not only that, he was the 2nd player who had the most impact with his completions scoring more than 7 goals than expected. In addition, he was the 4th LaLiga player with the best performance (+12.7). This year it occupies the 267th position in accumulated value (+2.03),” says Olocip.

Two years at Anfield

Llorente, averaging an offensive value of 0.26 per game, has started to penalize Atlético (-0.02) at the moment. Offensively, his contribution is negative; perhaps because his position is much further back and does not have as much impact on the game just two years after the game that marked his future as a rojiblanco: the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Anfield, when he left the bench to dress up as a hero, score two goals and carry Atlético to the quarterfinals. But then, that day, Simeone revealed to the world a new Llorente. A Llorente who took three steps forward and became an offensive reference. Two years later, that is the place where he feels most comfortable, but he is tied to the side. And from the side nothing is the same. Not even the.