What eleven guy for Atlético de Madrid this season? A priori, even Diego Simeone still makes knots in the brain in this quest for the perfect formula. Since the Club World Cup, El Cholo has never aligned the same team twice in a row. In attack, the only constant is the presence of Julian Alvarez, called to take even more thickness for his second season in Spain. But an equation with two unknowns surrounds the Argentinian: who to accompany him, and above all, in which system?
The idea of seeing Simeone abandon his traditional 4-4-2 for a 4-2-3-1, germinated in his mind, and it was also a project that he initiated no later than yesterday against Newcastle. Six days after a defeat against Porto in friendly (1-0), the Colchoneros won 2-0 in this configuration. The Argentinian world champion was then supported by two creative elements, Almada and Baena, then a more needy profile, Giuliano Simeone. Antoine Griezmann, extended in June but at the cost of a redefined role and liability revised down after a complicated season, showed that he still had under the foot when entering the break. The Spanish press, not always tender with it in recent months, is also lucid to it.
He was excellent yesterday
“Influential and vital”, writes Marca This Sunday about the 2018 world champion, goalscorer for victory yesterday after his entry into play. Shimmering by Sorloth who had taken care to delay before serving him in the area, Grizou tried Pope with a mischievous and delicious kick, before gratifying his fans of a “hotline bling”, the famous celebration he had made famous in 2016. Standing against Rayo Vallecano (1-1), the 34-year-old striker reassured his form of the moment, obviously ready to attack what should be his last, or his penultimate season (he is under contract until 2027).
“This break really did me good, and the teams that supervised us during the preparation did a great job for me. I'm sure it will help me this season “he said at the final whistle. It remains to be seen what role will entrust him with Simeone, while Atlético should revise his ambitions upwards after spending more than 150 M € this summer. Grizou, in any case, is ready. “The new ones must let go of the horses little by little. We know that it is difficult to play here at Atlético de Madrid. Now, it's also our turn to help them. The championship begins on Sunday (against Espanyol Barcelona), We work very well». It will still be necessary to count on Griezmann this year.
