La Liga has reached the point that Simeone had marked for weeks: the last five days. The plan was to get well placed to this final stretch and the truth is that all the advantage accumulated during the first round has disappeared. If Barça wins this Thursday, it will take away the leadership it has enjoyed since December, although, yes, Atlético will continue to depend on itself to be champion. The grand final for the League is on May 8, the visit to the Camp Nou. And that's what the template is clinging to right now.
The wardrobe scores point high: they will have to win everything to take the League. First touch the Elche, but it is difficult for the head not to go directly to that Barça-Atlético. To those of Cholo, with the defeat against Athletic, already they are not even worth the draw at the Camp Nou, unless Messi and company click before against Granada (Thursday) or Valencia (Sunday). But the rojiblanca squad assumes that Barça most likely will not stumble anymore. And if it does, Real Madrid and Seville They are lurking two and three points behind Atleti.
“We are confident that we can win all five games,” launched Koke. from the grass of San Mamés, still chewing what had just happened in the field. After visits to the Elche and to Barça, the team welcomes the Real society already Osasuna and closes the League in Valladolid. In addition, on the same day as the direct duel at the Camp Nou there is a Real Madrid-Seville. The recent dynamics of Atleti do not invite optimism, but there is a fact that can give it back: the five rivals that come before him he has already won in the first round. “This team is not going to give up,” says Savic, an authorized voice in the booth.
Simeone also began to play this final stretch in the post-match in Bilbao: “It's exciting. It will depend on the mental strength we have, on the personality. The opportunity is there, it depends on ourselves “. More than once, twice and three times he spoke at the press conference about this “mental strength”. The coach knows that he does not ask his players for the impossible, but they will only be in a position to achieve it if they believe in it. For example, if there is no trace of what was seen in the first half against Athletic and how much he disliked it.
Barça shoots up, Real Madrid and Sevilla lie in wait …
The technician, who is the one who most often stands before the microphones, has never singled out a rival ahead of others in this race, and even includes Seville for weeks. Atleti has never stopped mistrusting the threat of Real Madrid, for how he handles himself in these situations, no matter how much the Champions League may distract him. However, since the second round began, the concern with the rhythm of Barça (50 points from the last 57) has been increasing.
This is how Carrasco scored at Atlético-Barça.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno (Getty Images)
In the first round Atlético won (1-0) without Luis Suárez, but Koeman soon reactivated his team. Cholo's challenge, which finally has the entire squad available, is scare away pessimism as soon as possible and convince your people that you have to beat Elche. Match by match and mental strength. And then to the Camp Nou, for the great grind.