Funny season for Atlético de Madrid. The results in La Liga are particularly poor, so much so that the Colchoneros are, for the first time in the Simeone era at this height of the season, outside the Champions League positions. Fifth, the Colchoneros are however qualified for the quarter-finals of the most beautiful European competition, where they will challenge Borussia Dortmund.
In the middle of this ocean of happiness, but also of disappointment, there are a few players who float, like Antoine Griezmann. And in recent weeks, there is another man who has risen to the occasion: Memphis Depay. After a somewhat anecdotal first part of the season, the Dutchman has come back very well in recent weeks.
Depay soon to be a starter?
This month of March was particularly good for him, with this big match against Betis at the start of the month (2-1), then this decisive goal against Inter in the eighth return of the Champions League, allowing his team to go to overtime and win on penalties. Against Barça, he played 45 minutes and was one of the rare players to have more or less managed to be at the level. As explained A.S. this Monday, all this could push Diego Simeone to review his plans for his attack, and offer the starting place to the former OL to the detriment of Alvaro Morata.
Above all, Depay, spared from injuries at the moment, has the statistical advantage: he scores a goal every 121 minutes on average, compared to one goal every 133 minutes for the Spanish striker. Although it is true that, for the moment, Simeone prefers the intense collective and defensive work of Morata. “I have already played 90 minutes at Atletico. We play with two attackers. Nine times out of ten, the attackers are changed, then other attackers arrive. 90 minutes is, I suppose, tricky. But my body can handle it. My goal is to surpass my previous level and enjoy playing football. Stay close to who I am. I am a creative person. I'm not a striker who just stays in the box, waits for balls and finishes. I've never been that kind of player. I became an attacker, in a free and creative role”, confided the Dutchman in recent days during his selection training. The ball is in the Cholo’s court.
