In a week, at this time, the LaLiga ball will start rolling again for Atlético. Three months and three days after the last time of an official match for them, that of Anfield, the rojiblancos will play in San Mamés, against Athletic (2:00 p.m., June 14) with a clear objective: climb the leaderboard to Champions League positions. When the break due to the COVID-19 reached them, they were sixth, at one point but being a Europa League team for the next season, something that the offices of the Wanda Metropolitano do not even want to imagine: it would compromise the stability and viability of the club in the short term, it would even force to sell stars.
Simeone has been working on her options for this comeback for several weeks. If it was when the squad was divided into groups of ten, he was in charge of the supposed headlines, of the footballers that he saw in that role at the time, when they have already trained in groups again. with two little parties in which he has made hunger, sweat and legs the plans of his blackboard. Above all, one stands out: for what remains, Costa and ten more.
Ownership of Diego Costa
Simeone knows: nobody like Diego Costa in 'Beast' mode. It drives out the rival defenses, infects teammates, fights and thrashes. All in one. You were signed for this. He insisted for three long summers that he return because no striker executes what is in his head like that of Lagarto. Costa, who when he returned in March did so by forcing, still convalescing from his operation in November of a cervical disc herniation. He has returned recovered and finer, with two kilos below the weight he had when he rejoined in winter. In all his tests he is the man of attack. He can change his partner (Correa before injury, Lemar or even surprisingly Llorente himself) but he is immovable. The Argentine coach wants to lift the comeback in LaLiga on his shoulders.
Llorente, immovable
He was the hero of Anfield and will remain a key player in what comes next. Because that is another of the ideas that seems clear to Cholo at the restart of the competition: Llorente is here to stay. To his commendable physique he is adding a goal (two has scored in the two games that Atlético has played in the last ten days). He never dropped his arms, not even when he added more bench than minutes and opportunities and now he is having his reward. Mind you, it could even be who accompanied Costa Arriba in the match in San Mamés. It is proven.
Felipe's substitute?
Of all the tests that Simeone has done these days, one is striking: Felipe has always been part of the team of supposed substitutes. Strange thing. The Brazilian has not only been, by far, Atlético's best defender this season, but also his best footballer. But in this break Giménez has fully recovered and has formed a couple in the middle of the back always with Savic. The parties increase from three to five changes, Cholo prepares everything. But he misses that. That LaLiga return and Felipe be a substitute in Atlético.
Koke-Thomas-Saúl
They are their key footballers and they will continue to be so. The captain because his absences already scream what it is to play without him, defeats, receding goals, difficulties. Thomas because he is the essential piece right now in the center of the field, order, muscle and distribution. Saúl because he is the stride, the sacrifice and the multipurpose, the player most used by Cholo in the season (3,420), even ahead of Oblak (3,366).
Vitolo and ten more … on the bench
The canary, so fundamental when this League started, looks like bench meat now. That August is very far from this June and two muscle injuries cut those that were Vitolo's best moments at Atlético. Grada at Anfield, footballer who always gives judgment to the ball, The past preseason has already started in that role, as Correa. One, the Argentine, managed to change his destiny. He was about. Now, the rule of the five changes, is presented as a loophole to re-strain all the talent that his boots keep.