Atlético will need good football, goals, fortune and a lot of character to win this League. Doubts have entered the team at the least opportune moment, but they hold on to the fact that depends on himself to be champion. Y upon the return of Luis Suárez (34 years old), the man from “The forcefulness and the hierarchy”, as Simeone used to say about him. The Uruguayan, already overcome the muscle injury and after the half hour he had in San Mamés, stands as the leader Atleti needs for the final assault.
In the coaching staff and at the club they understand that Suárez is one of the footballers who has to pull the cart. By quality, by veteran and by gallons. In some parties they have missed that job, those intangible assets that were largely lost with the departures of the Gabi, Godín, Juanfran … And that can (and should) be put on the field by the Uruguayan, a forward whose presence intimidates. The outcome of the League “It will depend on mental strength, personality”, according to Cholo, aware of the low mood of his team. In Elche he needs his players fully convinced and plugged in, without giving away the first half or giving up in individual duels.
From the January rush to the bump
The acceleration of the team in the first place coincided with the best numbers of Luis Suárez. If Atleti played well, the Uruguayan enjoyed the chances generated. If the rojiblancos were thicker, the gunman came to the rescue as soon as a ball arrived. After the defeat in Valdebebas (December 12), the '9' celebrated a streak of eleven goals in nine games, in which the team added 25 points out of 27. Since then, that double against Celta (2-2), has been able to celebrate only three goals in ten days, and missed three through injury.
But Suárez's impact on Atlético goes beyond goals, which are still his main mission for the team. From very soon wowed the locker room with his winning character. In fact, they already knew this, because almost everyone had faced him, but what was especially pleasant is that, although he arrived after having conquered everything, I was still hungry and that's why it soon became a voice to listen to inside the booth. In Bilbao, without going too far, it was of those most affected by the crash and did not hide it.
If there are no setbacks, Luis Suárez will start this Saturday, and in the rest of the games. If it was not against Athletic, it is because he had barely had a training and a half and Simeone preferred to save it for the final stretch. The charrúa need to get the peak of shape as soon as possible and, on the other hand, that his teammates also give their best version and help him with goal balls. The Cholo, beyond the ram, turns to the choice of his companions. Correa, João Félix, Marcos Llorente, Carrasco and Lemar are running to be part of that second line. All, with Simeone at the helm, trust their scorer, who has to hit the last blow on the table of the season.
The impossible precedent of Luis Suárez in the Barçto
Atlético's goal is to add, match by match, the 15 points that remain at stake and for that he needs Suarez to score the more goals, the better. Putting in a figure is daring, but the team would be very happy if it gets even slightly closer to the best final stretch of its career. In 2015-16, the Uruguayan achieved 14! goals (and four assists) in the last five days: four to Depor (plus three passes), four to Sporting, one to Betis, two to Espanyol (and one who gave) and three to Granada. He finished that League with 40 points and the Golden Boot. The team would happily settle for half of that loot for this 2020-21 sprint …