Atlético have all their hopes placed in the Champions League. The rojiblanco team dreams of the trophy that has escaped them three times from the tips of their fingers, two of them with Simeone on the bench and they know that they have before them a unique opportunity in an atypical year, with the qualifiers to a match.
To try to overcome the challenge, Cholo aspires to be able have their entire squad for the game on August 13 against Leipzig. At the moment he has two doubts: that of Thomas, who suffered a micro-break in the match against Real Sociedad and he will have to be out for about three weeks, just the time left for the game and that of Sime Vrsaljko.
The Croatian submitted on May 21 to arthroscopy in his left knee to remove all surgical material that he had been implanted in the operation he suffered on February 13 of last year due to a tear of the cruciate ligament. That passage through the operating room, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, has kept him out during the eleven league games played since the return to competition. However, from the club they trust that he is back in training with his teammates already next Sunday and can arrive in full condition to the match against Leipzig.
In that case, Simeone could count on his three right backs to face the end of the course and in the case of also having Thomas, have their 23 fit footballers. Vrsaljko has played only seven games this year, where he was out until January for that knee injury, but was chosen to cover Trippier's absence due to his pubalgia operation in late January. The Croatian advanced Arias in the rotation to start in key games such as the derby against Real Madrid or the first leg against Liverpool, curdling good performances after so long standing still. He was also chosen at Anfield to play the overtime when the English winger was feeling loaded.
Vrsaljko's absence on the return of the break opened the doors of the team to Arias himself, who has interspersed his appearances with Trippier, one match each, recovering his best version. Among the three right-backs of the team, one seems destined to leave the club in the summer market and the Champions League could be decisive. Trippier has been a starter for practically the entire course in the year of his arrival. Between Vrsaljko and Arias, the former has the handicap that has caused his constant injuries and the second with the condition of non-community. What is clear is that for Cholo there is no better option than to have all his players available, increasing internal competition to the maximum.