Simeone's eleven for the derby came with a surprise: Saúl, on the bench. For the midfielder Herrera entered, who played only the first part. The substitution of the Elche by technical decision serves as notice that he is no longer untouchable, also, his is a position with high competition. Cholo trusts him, he is one of his trusted men, but on the squad squeeze Herrera (bad in Valdebebas, good before the break), Torreira and Kondogbia, that begins to claim more minutes.
This campaign is not being easy for Saúl, which has also lost its place in the Selection. It is his turn to do dirtier job So that Koke and the rest of the attackers look like, but Simeone was sending him signals. In three of the four games before the derby, Saúl was substituted: Valencia, Valladolid and Salzburg. Against Madrid he had to wait for the 60th minute to enter. He had two chances to score, a very clear head.
Saul's substitutions in the last four years
| Date | Match | He entered the … | Apparent reason |
| 12/12/20 | R. Madrid-Atlético | 60 ' | Technical decision |
| 06/20/20 | Athletic-Valladolid | – | Rest during the week |
| 03/09/19 | Athletic-Leganés | 46 ' | Break before Champions (Juve) |
| 11/28/18 | Athletic-Monaco | 69 ' | Break (team already classified) |
| 09/25/18 | Athletic-Huesca | – | Rest during the week |
| 05/06/18 | Athletic-Espanyol | 46 ' | Rotations (nothing at stake in the League, after the Europa League semi-final) |
| 02/22/18 | Athletic-Copenhagen. | 46 ' | Rotations after 1-4 of the first leg |
| 11/29/17 | Athletic-Elche | 70 ' | Cup rotations |
| 10/25/17 | Elche-Athletic | 58 ' | Cup rotations |
| 04/15/17 | Athletic-Osasuna | – | Break before Champions (Leicester) |
| 02/18/17 | Sporting-Athletic | 62 ' | Rest before Champions (Leverkusen) |
| 12/12/16 | Villarreal-Athletic | 30 ' | Technical decision |
Saul was the second most used footballer by Simeone during the past season (after Oblak), the third in 18-19 (after the goalkeeper and Griezmann) and the first of all in 17-18. That is, indisputable. In this one too, although an ailment left him out of the game during the second half of October. Injuries (few), penalties and rotations due to rest (few also) are the reasons that had taken Saul out of eleven in recent years. But to see a game where the coach preferred another teammate for a technical and tactical issue, you have to go back four years, to Villarreal-Atlético of 2016-17 in which Gabi and Tiago were still basic. That night the Portuguese was injured and automatically and definitively opened the door for Saúl. Self-critical and competitive like few others, 8 you have received the notice. Simeone awaits you to give you your site.