Morale and centrals for the derby

Atlético returned from Portugal with a ticket to the Champions League round of 16 and with another face. The victory in Porto avoided a setback that would have left the season almost over in December, but now the team looks to the future in a different way. On Monday he will meet his next European rival and the day before he will play a derby at the Bernabéu. And the dressing room has convinced itself, once again, that it will be difficult, but far from impossible. What’s more, Simeone recovers pieces in defense after the patching he had to do in O Dragao. There are reasons for confidence in the rojiblanca house.

Cholo loses Luis Suárez, but there you have a Cunha that quotes upwards. The Brazilian, in silence, is convincing everyone and against Porto he added again. I work without the ball and quality with him, with a play that, if Pepe couldn’t avoid it under the crossbar, would have become the goal of the year. Without Suárez, Simeone will choose between Cunha, Griezmann, João Félix and Correa for the Bernabéu.

Vrsaljko falls, Felipe returns, Giménez is the unknown

In defence, will stay out Vrsaljko, who played for more than an hour with a broken face. The Croatian was the unexpected hero in Porto, playing out of position at a high level. In return, Felipe is back, who did not play against his old team due to suspension. In the absence of several trainings, Giménez is also expected, although always with caution. The back of circumstances (Vrsaljko, Kondogbia and Hermoso) gave the stature in the Champions League, but recovering troops is essential.

But above all, Atleti returned from O Dragao with a boost in morale. The footballers themselves reviewed their feelings after the match: fatigue, suffering, relief, pride and much joy. “This is Atleti”, commented Griezmann and Hermoso. “It has been seen that we are a strong group and that we can do more than what we are doing”, Oblak explained, always self-critical, but optimistic: “When you are not well, you have to survive because everything can change.”

João Félix, winning card

And the Porto appointment has also served to give value to some pieces of the second unit. The most striking cases are those of Vrsaljko, which has barely counted, and Cunha, in a growing phase, but it is also Kondogbia, and appears Lodi, who entered to row in the final section. “We are a united group. At some point Whoever sat down today will be the starter and will have to go out to win the game. We need everyone, “explained Griezmann. This phrase from the French directly evokes João Félix, who ran out of minutes in O Dragao and it can be one of the aces up Cholo’s sleeve.

Atlético returns to training to start preparing for the derby. A win would complete the rojiblancos’ perfect week, but before the game it’s time to check the headgear. Giménez and Trippier have a few days to join the group one hundred percent. Every good news is greeted with joy. The dressing room intends to take Porto 1-3 as a turning point, starting with La Liga: Sunday goes to Bernabeu, where he already beat Ancelotti twice, and then visit to Seville and Granada.