Sime Vrsaljko is taking advantage of his minutes. The Croat, who has barely had matches in the last four seasons, has taken over the right lane in the last two games after Trippie’s injuryr as soon as the Mestalla match begins and is responding to Simeone.
At 29 years old, Vrsaljko lost continuity from his serious knee injury in his assignment to Inter and has only added 23 games in his last three seasons back at Atlético (six of them this season). But against Valencia and against Osasuna he left the feeling of having recovered his physical splendor and in this state it can be very useful for the team. Against Milan, Simeone has the possibility of placing Llorente as right lane to clear a hole in the center of the field to De Paul. However, Vrsaljko has made it clear that he is available if needed.
In Mestalla he made his debut as a scorer in LaLiga with a goal that seemed to sentence a meeting that ended up complicated. And against Osasuna Atlético recovered a defense of four, as Vrsaljko can feel more comfortable on the wing than a much improved Trippier when he acts as a winger with three center-backs behind. The Croatian suffered a very strong blow to the face during the first half, but wanted to continue and ended up leaving a great second half. Atlético began to turn its attack also to the right wing and got on well with Llorente and Correa and put several centers with great intention to try to complicate a defense of Osasuna that is very powerful in the air game.
Despite this, Vrsaljko’s shipments were the ones that put the visiting defenders in more commitments. AND as the last man he made a fundamental coverage when Osasuna was already going against and he could stand one against one if the Croatian did not get to be there, which helped him to earn a great ovation from the Wanda Metropolitano. Serious in defense and powerful above, Vrsaljko showed good feelings for the second consecutive game, something that is great news for Atleti and Simeone with Trippier injured in the shoulder. In a squad as short as the rojiblanca it is necessary for everyone to add, and the Croatian is showing that he is willing to do so.