The Spanish Super Cup was very expensive for Atlético. The rojiblanco team was defeated in the semifinal against Athletic and in the match against the Basque team lost two players: Marcos Llorente and Kondogbiaboth injured. Llorente retired at the break and Kondogbia in the 50th minute. One more setback for Simeone, who will be several games without these two players.
Marcos Llorente played against Athletic, but relapsed from his gluteal injury. The man from Madrid was injured against Sevilla on December 18. He missed the games against Granada and Rayo Vallecano. He played against Rayo Majadahonda, Villarreal and the first half against Athletic. He will be about three weeks off. He will not play against Real Sociedad, in the Cup, nor against Valencia and the week in which the competition will come in handy for the midfielder to recover from his physical problems. Atlético will play on February 6 against Barcelona in LaLiga and it could be the match in which Marcos Llorente reappears.
Kondogbia was also injured against Athletic in the Super Cup. A muscle injury that could keep him away from the pitch for almost a month, so Simeone will not have him available until mid-February. A shame because Kondogbia was performing very well in midfield. His loss will allow Héctor Herrera, who has practically disappeared from the team, to have a few minutes. The arrival of Wass, who can play as a winger or as a midfielder, will also ease Atlético’s losses.
In addition to Marcos Llorente and Kondogbia, Griezmann is still in the dry dock. Nobody wants to risk with the French in the match against Valencia. Griezmann will need one more week to be at his best. Cholo will have him by the first of the month. February will be very demanding: LaLiga, perhaps the Cup, if Atlético eliminates Real Sociedad, and the Champions League. And Simeone needs all his players.