Simeone stayed so happy with the performance of his own before him Uniteddespite the tie, repeated eleven against Celta. A message to everyone, holders and reserves. Meritocracy works and the road is from the last meetings. AND footballers who had not had much prominence have gained strengthWhat Lodi, Herrera, Vrsaljko… Now several unknowns are open to Cholo in the gala team, among incumbents who will have to row to regain his position and others who have earned the site.
some soccer players are priced down, like Luis Suarez, De Paul and Hermoso, who have lost their place when they seemed fixed. And then there are other regular starters, three in particular, who have been dropped for reasons other than performance on the pitch. Koke is injured, Griezmann has just returned after a month and a half away and Lemar comes from overcoming the coronavirus. Three dilemmas that Cholo will have to face, with Old Trafford as the appointment marked in red.
Correa and João Félix, on the rise; Suarez, in doubt
Griezmann, Koke and Lemar are Simeone’s absolute trustespecially the first two. The captain is indisputable and when available, play. Only in two games has he started on the bench: Majadahonda and Villarreal, just after passing the coronavirus. The French on loan from Barça, until this injury, too He was an almost fixed starter: he started in 15 games out of 19. But now alternatives gain weight in midfield and attack.
In the front, Correa and João Félix are not going to make it easy for Griezmann. The Argentine is the team’s best scorer (12) and provides solutions and a lot of work; and the Portuguese comes from a more than remarkable streak, with goals against Osasuna and Manchester United and a few samples of his talent. The three at the same time have a difficult fit (sending Correa to the right, for example), although two seem so, since Suárez is not indisputable. Simeone will have to think about it and Griezmann, give arguments.
The vindication of Herrera and Kondogbia
In the center of the field, Koke has always been fixed. He’s not as fine as he was last season, but he hasn’t suffered from the coach’s confidence. The muscle injury with which he returned from Pamplona has led Simeone to join Herrera, Kondogbia and Llorente in the middle. The Mexican in the center, directing; and the three biting the rival. The ex of the Valencia, in addition, signing two assists against Celta. And the man from Madrid, attacking to the bottom line, as in his best moments last year. One must leave if Koke regains his place. Now Kondogbia is touched, but also the captain. When both are there, Cholo will decide.
Nor will Lemar have an easy time getting a place in the team. The competition in the middle rises and Kondogbia, inside left in the last two games, has passed the exams with flying colours.. And for the left lane, in the absence of Carrasco Lodi has appeared strongly, whom Simeone as a good option because there he is more freed from defensive work. The boundary between the starters and unit B is less and less clear because the substitute theoreticians grow, but it is what the coach is pursuing, a great internal competition.