Luis Suárez has not had a very good end of the year. The Uruguayan has run dry and, almost worse, he hardly has any scoring opportunities, which generates frustration for the player and the team. Because for Simeone he no longer has the label of untouchable, and this has been demonstrated by taking him out of the matches in Seville (with 1-1) and Granada (just after conceding 2-1). The blackout of 9, which started the course with a good scoring rhythm, but does not mark since November 7, worries at Atleti.
The gunman already links eight games without seeing the goal, plus another two with Uruguay. Since that tight shot at Mestalla, Suárez has been unable to execute his popular three-finger celebration. But the worst is the feeling that the striker goes unnoticed in many games. The team’s game is not being good, although there are sections where the rojiblancos do arrive frequently and clearly in the rival area (it happened in Granada, in Seville, in the derby…), and even so the Uruguayan hardly generates danger.
Just a shot between clubs
In Los Cármenes he left in 68 ‘with a shot out. In Nervión, he came out in 57 ‘reluctantly with a blocked shot. And it is the trend for several weeks. In these eight drought matches, Suárez has only made four shots, and only one went to goal, at the Bernabéu.
However, the Uruguayan continues to be Simeone’s favorite option for attack. In the derby he was a substitute because he came from an injury, but in Porto he had started and also entered the eleven in the last two days. But Cunha squeezes more and more and João Félix, although he is not a nine, is trading higher as well. And Griezmann will soon be available after the injury he suffered against Madrid. The competition for Suárez will be increasingly demanding. And Cholo, who always values his hierarchy in the field, likes to see him angry when things don’t go well for him.
Cunha’s threat
But Cunha, still unexploited as a scorer (he has only three goals), heats up the debate. For now It does not have the lethality that Suárez has shown for more than a decade, but he provides the team with short and long game solutions, combines with quality and does an interesting job in pressure. That is why the Brazilian counts more and more.
Even so, Atleti waits for the best Suarez, as he needs the best of the team to end the losing streak. The Uruguayan, who ends his contract in June, intends to be the decisive forward of the last League and the one who shone at the beginning of this. And Simeone will do everything possible for it.