The key at Anfield: Simeone kept everyone healthy and able to use them

The tie against Liverpool was marked in red on Atlético's calendar Almost from the moment the Champions League draw was held in mid-December and he paired the Atletico team with the current European champion. When it became known about the pairing, Atlético was not going through its best moment, which was also combined with the fact that the squad was quite reduced. And for everyone the objective was clear: try to be healthy and available for the clash against Liverpool.

The clearest example was that of Diego Costa, who underwent surgery for a cervical hernia on November 21 and was on leave for three months. His challenge was to play the tie. He played a few minutes in the Wanda Metropolitano game and started at Anfield. The breadth of the squad and having everyone at their disposal was decisive for the clash played in England. In fact, Simeone had to discard five players, something practically unprecedented throughout the exercise. On many occasions Simeone had no players to complete the squad.

The case of Diego Costa was not the only one of players who have recovered so as not to miss this event. João Félix spent a month off the pitchHe missed the Wanda Metropolitano match and returned shortly before the clash: he played against Villarreal, Espanyol and Sevilla, where he played a great game. And at Anfield he was a starter.

Another example has been that of Vrsaljko. To be out of the team in January to play a lot and also to do it in the decisive match. He was not a starter, but came out in extra time to replace Trippier. Vrsaljko has contributed his bit since January and has displaced Arias, who could be considered as the third right-back. Giménez is another example of what happened. Out for a long time due to injury, he left Anfield in the final stretch of the crash, just to reinforce a rear that sought to shield himself in the air game. Simeone used them all, some at the beginning and others with the game started, and they all played their part. In overtime, Simeone was even able to make the fourth change that is allowed and he did it with a footballer of his maximum guarantees.

Injuries have been the general tone of Atlético this season. Only seven players have not been injured: Adán, Oblak, Felipe, Llorente, Correa, Saúl and Saponjic. The rest fell over and over again.

Atlético has had a very busy schedule, although the last elimination of the Copa del Rey at the hands of Cultural Leonesa caused the team to have more rest and not to put at risk the few players that the Argentine coach had at his disposal at the time. That elimination was a very hard stick, but Cholo could be recovering troops. But for the decisive match Cholo had them all.