Atlético has finished a season of involution for a large part of its squad. The red and white team he maintained the base of the league champion team and added prized pieces such as Griezmann, De Paul or Cunha. However, the setbacks began to brew very early, the fragility took over the defense, the injuries took their toll and the game did not flow at any time as if it had been achieved a few months before.
But, among the bad news, there were also players capable of taking a step forward. This is the case of Geoffrey Kondogbia. The international midfielder for the Central African Republic he had arrived at the club in November 2020, thanks to the extra period granted by LaLiga to replace a Thomas who had gotten off the ship on the last day of the summer market for the amount of his clause. No adaptation time Kondogbia had to be prepared to add from the first day, but with a more usual role coming off the bench to close the games with an advantage on the scoreboard and helping a Koke who had taken over the pivot in eleven.
However, the 29-year-old entered this campaign as one of the few players who they were able to carry out the preseason and be available for Simeone in endless absences due to the participation of the bulk of the squad in the European Championship and Copa América. Kondogbia resigned from being with his national team to catch up with his teammates and earn a space in Cholo’s plans. And, based on work, he has ended up achieving it. Injuries have been a common setback in the sporting career of the medium, which he had never made more than 37 games played for Sevilla in the 2012-13 season… until this campaign, where he was able to be on the pitch 39 times.
Of course, reducing muscle problems does not mean eliminating them completely, since he has missed nine games due to injury. Kondogbia was also absent against Barcelona due to the accumulation of yellow cards and in Granada’s visit after an incomprehensible expulsion against Espanyol, where the ball hit him in the rebounded hand after a clearance by Felipe. From less to more, the pivot ended up becoming a very important piece for Simeone, especially in the duels of Champions where he showed his best version against Manchester United and Manchester City. Strength, kilometers covered, recovery and a very neat exit of the ball through his shipments into space and the driving in the race that were key for the team to be able to be strong in the center of the field.
Kondogbia ended up as one of the team’s most important players, possibly the best midfielder on the course and accumulating ten starts in a row in a season finale at a high level. The Central African has finished as the Atlético player with the most recoveries in the League (188)the sixth with the most good passes (854) after Koke, Savic, De Paul, Hermoso and Llorente and the fifth with the best percentage, with an 86% success rate in their shipments. With 2,602 minutes, he was the eighth most used player by Simeone. Kondogbia found in Lodi the ideal player with his runs into space on the left wing, giving him two goal passes in the match against Celta and generating a lot of danger with that resource. He also scored a goal against Villarreal and teamed up perfectly with Herrera.
Atlético must now make up for the departure of the Mexican and after lose the opportunity to strengthen with Boubacar Kamara, look for pivots in the market. names like Camara, Palinha, Ugarte or Guido Rodríguez have already been related to the rojiblanco club. Also midfielders with a more offensive profile like Carlos Soler. And Saúl returns from his loan to Chelsea waiting to analyze his future. But, at the end of the course, Kondogbia has earned a few stripes in Simeone’s scheme that he does not want to lose after everything it has cost him to be important. If the coach has always advocated maximum internal competition, the 29-year-old will make it difficult for him if someone wants to take him out of the eleven.