The Reinildo Effect

Two months ago I was a stranger in the Atleti universe, but right now the rojiblanco team cannot be understood without Reinildo Mandava (28 years). The Mozambican arrived at the edge of the market closing, debuted that same week at the Camp Nou and, since then, it is very proprietary. Neither mili cholista, nor adaptation, direct to the field. Reinildo and ten more. AND the team defends better and concedes fewer goals. Even if it’s not just for him, there is a reinildo effect at Atletico.

The defender has played as a rojiblanco 743 minutes spread over nine games, all complete except those of Barça (he entered in the second half) and Levante (he was substituted in 77′). And in those more than 12 hours of football, the team has received 7 goals (three from Getafe, one from Levante, United, Betis and Cádiz). In some, it is more, Mandava did not come out quite well. But if with him a goal comes against every 106 minutes, without him it was one every 65.9. The improvement is remarkable.

Atlético presented the African as a defensive specialist and that is what he is showing. He is not a virtuoso with the ball at his feet, but he is not what is claimed of him either. In return, he is a aggressive defense, sticky, who wins duels and puts his foot. At Old Trafford the mission required reinforced concrete and that is what Reinildo contributed, whose presence is also allowing us to see the best Lodi, because he feels protected.

Lodi, on the rise; beautiful, no room

Because Simeone, in addition, has adapted Reinildo to the left central position. He arrived from Lille as a left back and that’s how it started, but the change in the system to 5-3-2 relocates him. Mandava closes with Giménez and Savic (or Felipe) and escorts Lodi or Carrasco. He just defends, and he did so at Old Trafford against Cristiano, Bruno (smacked a ball out of the air between his legs), Elanga, Rashford… Pure cholismo of the footballer who, in theory, knows less about philosophy because he is the last to arrive.

But this coin has two sides. If the revelation Reinildo appears in one, on the reverse is Mario Hermoso. The winter signing seemed to leave Lodi sentenced, but the one who has been left without a place is the Spanish. His last ownership was precisely at the Camp Nou. Then he played half an hour with Getafe (and scored the winning goal) and since then, between coronavirus, an adductor injury and Cholo’s decisions, only 9 minutes.