Blessed trouble for Simeone. The Atlético coach has all his artillery at his disposal and will have to choose forwards to face Liverpool, a match that can mark the future of the team in this group stage. Luis Suárez, Correa, Griezmann, João Félix, Cunha … Five forwards for two places. Much and good to choose from and Cholo knows that he needs them all to defeat the English team. Among the strikers there is one who ended up in plan is in the last match played by Atlético: João Félix, who caused a lot of problems for Barcelona. He had a great connection with Luis Suárez and Lemar and showed the level that both Cholo and the rojiblancos supporters aim for.
Simeone himself admitted in the press conference after the clash against Barcelona that expect that great version of Portuguese throughout the season. Cholo is looking for a more regular striker and not for him to play two or three good games per year. For the rojiblanco coach that is not enough.
The Portuguese has had a very difficult start to the season, since after the Eurocup he had surgery on his right ankle and could not start LaLiga on time. He lost the first three games, against Celta, Elche and Villarreal, and later, when he was playing well, he was sent off against Athletic, for which he missed another two league games, against Getafe and Alavés. That is, he played against Espanyol, Athletic and Barcelona. In total, 121 minutes of league competition. In the Champions League he did play against Porto and Milan.
The Champions is a special and different competition for the Portuguese and one of the reasons he signed for Atlético was to try to win this competition. Last season he was the best of the rojiblanco team in the London game against Chelsea. And the previous campaign the same thing happened in the match against Leipzig, in the final phase played in Lisbon. João Félix left sadly after these two games and now has yet another chance to confirm himself as a world-class forward.
Last year he played 40 games and scored ten goals, seven in LaLiga and three in the Champions League.. His goal this season is to beat those records and help the team fight for every title.
On November 10 he will turn 22 and will have already played both games against Liverpool in the group stage of the Champions League, matches that will be on the world football showcase. João Félix, by the way, contributed to Atlético’s triumph against the English team in the already historic triumph at Anfield and Marcos Llorente’s magical night. Tuesday’s game must be his confirmation and show that what he did against Barcelona will be the keynote of the year.