Mario Hermoso comes to the derby against Real Madrid as one of Simeone's undisputed. The 25-year-old has found his place at Atlético and after a discreet first year with little prominence, it has become a fundamental piece in the rojiblanca defense. So much so that the great tactical change this season, with the line of three centrals behind, is largely due to its characteristics.
During your absence after contracting the coronavirus, Cholo kept the idea of the three behind, but there was no one who could perform in that left profile and who covered Hermoso's mission as a ball out from behind. Of course, the Madrilenian could start tomorrow's derby as a left-back, a position he knows and although he feels more uncomfortable, he can develop as he already did in La Cerámica.
Beautiful has disputed 2,089 minutes so far this year, entering 23 times in the eleven of Cholo and scoring two very important goals, in the Champions League for certify the pass to the round of 16 against Salzburg and in the League to get ahead of the visit to Real Sociedad. To put it in perspective, and despite the fact that at the beginning of the course he started as a substitute and that he recently contracted COVID-19, Hermoso has already played almost 400 more minutes than in all of last season (1691).
He is in charge of getting the ball played, of ordering the team's football from behind and when he plays with two other centrals at his side, does not suffer as much in the melee with rival rams. As a side it costs him more, although it allows Simeone to be able to alternate the two versions of the rear as the game develops. And against Real Madrid he will have a special match for him. Canterano blanco, from 11 to 20 years old he played in the lower categories of what will be his next rival.
Decided to go out to grow first loaned to Valladolid, where he already played as a left back, and after spending a year at Real Madrid Castilla again, set course for Espanyol, where its explosion occurred. A first season in which he was already showing his characteristics and a second to reveal himself, with the team finishing in seventh place in a remarkable year. Something that put Atlético in his wake, already as an absolute international. With one more year of contract, Espanyol accepted Atlético's offer of 25 million for their services. Madrid had 50% of his pass, so he could veto the operation, but finally He entered 12.5 million for a player who was not in his plans.
But now Hermoso looks forward to the European Championship as one of the fastest growing players of the season at Atlético. And that after a not very productive first year there was talk of a possible departure from the center in summer. But finally, based on work, a hole has been carved in the rear. As a central profiled on the left or from the side, his role and his positioning will be decisive in a derby where the stakes are high. A more mature Hermoso and in his best moment receives the team that saw him grow up with the desire to show all that he has grown under the command of Simeone.