Atlético has found a gap in their defense on the right side. FIFA's two-and-a-half-month ban on Trippier following the English Federation has kept him off the pitch in the last seven league games, in addition to prevent him from playing against Getafe, Alavés and Cornellà previously between the precautionary and being separated from the team. Atlético tried by all means to be able to continue counting on their player, who after the last claim could at least train with his teammates. Finally he will miss 12 games as rojiblanco, for none in his selection.
Well, chance or notWith Trippier's last game, Atlético's last clean sheet came. The Englishman was able to play the Sevilla match with precautionary in hand, where Atlético won 2-0 with an assist from Trippier for Correa, his fifth in the league, and a capital participation in both Saúl thanks to his move to space for Llorente. Since then, Oblak has always seen a rival pierce his goal, in the case of Eibar, Valencia, Granada and Levante in Valencia with one and in the case of Cádiz, Celta and Levante himself in the Metropolitan twice, for a total of ten goals against in seven games when six had been conceded in the previous 16 games.
Of course, the vast majority of the goals have not come from his side and it cannot be guaranteed that with the presence of Trippier they would not have occurred, but what is undoubted is that Simeone has not found a warranty replacement for English. And that has forced him to have to move every two by three pieces and reconverting footballers to try to occupy his place. It must be borne in mind that until its sanction, Trippier had played it all in the League and the Champions League and in defense with three center-backs and as a lane player he had achieved his best level as a rojiblanco.
Vrsaljko, his natural substitute, has not lived up to expectations, paying the inactivity of nine months without playing. Against Levante, some physical problems left him out of the call. Llorente has had to accumulate many minutes in the position, but he is very uncomfortable and the team loses all its bite in attack, a fundamental piece in the rojiblancas offensive. In front of the granota team, Cholo recovered the line of four behind, placing Giménez as a right back for a few minutes. In the second half Correa de carrilero and the squad would start Ricard would debut in the position. Carrasco also came to change bands to play there against Valencia and in loose minutes against Granada. A huge gap with Trippier's loss that no one has managed to cover. There are only two games left, Chelsea and Villarreal, to have English back. A 'signing' for the end of the season that if he recovers the level he was showing will be essential for Atlético to be able to meet again.