A one-week slip is all it has taken for Atlético Madrid’s season to crash to the ground.
Wasting a 2-0 first leg lead in the Champions League Last 16 against Juventus was bad enough. Following it a few days later with a dismal defeat against Athletic Club that ended Atleti’s league title hopes worsened the situation further still.
4
Atletico Madrid ace Saul Niguez celebrates scoring this season.
The results, 3-0 in Turin and 2-0 in Bilbao, are both terrible, but above all the performances were particularly worrying. Against Juve, Atleti had nothing, ineffective in their starting approach and unable to change it in any meaningful way despite the painfully obvious mismatch that was playing out. Against Athletic meanwhile they barely got close to the opposition goal.
For once, Diego Simeone can’t blame the embarrassments unravelled on being the little guys – the underdogs he so often likes to insist his Atleti are.
Based on net salary, he is the best paid coach in the world, while only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo earn more than Colchoneros star Antoine Griezmann. Thomas Lemar, bought for €70million last summer, was the most expensive signing of the current La Liga season.
Yet Atleti haven’t taken any meaningful steps forward. In the case of some key players, they may even have taken a step backwards. When Luis Enrique last week announced the Spain squad to face Norway and Malta, Koke and Saúl were notable in their absence, but few complained.
LATEST FOOTBALL STORIES
Neither of the Atleti midfielders have had good seasons, and while Koke can to an extent blame that on injury, Saúl’s regression is of more concern. With 36 games under his belt, playing time hasn’t been difficult to find, but it is difficult to think of a standout performance from the 24-year-old over the last year, despite his obvious talent.
It is certainly no coincidence that in the hours after his omission from the Spain list was revealed, reports broke that Manchester City are moving close to a deal for the No.8. It remains to be seen whether that will indeed crystallise, but what is true is that the chances of the Atleti youngster leaving his boyhood club appear higher than ever.
Offers have never been short in the past, but while on previous occasions the Elche native has opted to stay put and continue his development with Atleti in the hope of playing a part in further success for the Rojiblancos, the stagnation of recent seasons and the snub from Spain will not have passed unnoticed.
4
Saul argues with Jaime Mata in what has been a tough season for the midfielder.
Saúl is an exceptionally gifted footballer but it has been a while since he made a step forward. In truth the same could be said for any of Simeone’s more offensive players in recent seasons.
Signed five years ago now, Antoine Griezmann is the last attacker Cholo has helped to improve in any meaningful way, and even then the Frenchman has had diminishing returns in front of goal since hitting a career best 32 in 2016.
The case of Lemar is one of the most striking. The longer he is coached by Simeone, the poorer the winger seems to be. While the 23-year-old excited and caused optimism in Atleti’s 4-2 win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup last August, it proved to be a false dawn – much like the thrilling attacking play with which they won that match in extra time.
Since then, he has trudged along, by now barely ever taking on his man with any conviction, and looking confused about his job.
4
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone face a tough summer.
We are reaching a pivotal moment in the Simeone project – perhaps the most important summer of transition since he took up his current position in 2011.
If Saúl decides to leave, could it prove to be a watershed moment for other attackers bored of being reduced to workhorses at Atleti? Will the club opt to take the easy way out and hang the blame of Lemar’s failure to meet expectations solely on the player himself? Or is it JUST part of a broader trend of offensive signings being stifled after arriving at the Metropolitano?
Those issues are big enough, and we haven’t even touched on the impending exits of several of the 2014 league title winners. Filipe Luis, Diego Godin and Juanfran are all out of contract this summer – three huge players in Atleti history who are not easy to replace.
That task is made more difficult still when Bayern Munich have made no secret of their plan to trigger the release clause of Lucas Hernández, who won the World Cup at left-back and has long been earmarked as one of Atleti’s starting centre-backs of the future.
4
France World Cup winner Lucas Hernandez could be one of many stars who leave Atletico Madrid in the summer.
As for Diego Costa, fight though he always does, perennial injury problems and a paltry return of only one league goal in 14 games don’t bode well for the 30-year-old’s future contributions. Particularly with the younger, already more effective (three league goals in six games) Ãlvaro Morata around.
We’re heading for a tumultuous summer at the Metropolitano, and Saúl may just be the tip of the iceberg.
Wayne Rooney shares adorable photos of son Kit as they celebrate third birthday. The former Manchester United ace and doting dad has shared heartfelt birthday wishes with his son
Wayne Rooney - Wikipedia
Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has accused Mohamed Salah of diving during Liverpool's 2-0 victory over the Bluebirds on Sunday.. Liverpool snatched a tough three points against Cardiff City in Wales to return top of the Premier League table, thanks to a strike from Georginio Wijnaldum and a James Milner penalty.
Video: Warnock compares Salah dive to Tom Daley | Goal.com
~ Transfer news and football gossip: Man United rival Liverpool for Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi, Tottenham want Diogo Jota and Grealish, Arsenal target Ligue 1 duo ~ Kenya Latest
Transfer news and football gossip: Man United rival Liverpool
Liverpool vs Barcelona: The Anfield faithful will be hoping they can emulate THIS heroic Champions League comeback involving Alisson And if you cast your minds back to last season there's a
The Anfield faithful will be hoping they can emulate THIS
Liverpool transfer news: Reds 'to raise £100m' from sales of NINE players. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is ready to sanction the departures of nine fringe players this summer
Liverpool Tipped to Raise £100m This Summer by Selling Off
Real Madrid fans want Bale out According to a recent report from AS, they recently carried out a survey that asked whether or not SoccerNews.com - Published 12 hours ago: Gareth Bale future: 91 per cent of Real Madrid fans vote for Welshman to leave LaLiga giants Gareth Bale's Real Madrid future appears to be hanging by a thread.
Only NINE per cent of Real Madrid fans want to hold onto
Valencia vs Arsenal FREE live stream: How to watch without paying extra plus TV channel, kick-off time and line-ups Thursday, 9 May 2019 ( 1 hour ago ) Arsenal are in Spain tonight looking to get their job done on Valencia and book a place in the Europa League final.
Arsenal vs Napoli FREE live stream: How to watch without
Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos could leave Ibrox this summer with interest from Europe and beyond as The Gers begin summer business. Alfredo Morelos could seek a move away from Rangers this summer
Raheem Sterling criticism at Euro 2016 was 'worst I've ever
The result prompted Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock to suggest that Leeds 'have a soft belly' and will not be strong enough to overcome Norwich City or Sheffield United at the top of the
Neil Warnock diagnoses Leeds United's - leeds-live.co.uk
Saturday's defeat at MK Dons was a 12th in 16 league matches for the Glovers in 2019. Yeovil have sacked manager Darren Way, the League Two club have announced. A poor run of results - 10 defeats in the last 12 matches - has seen the Glovers slip perilously close to the relegation zone.
Yeovil sack manager Darren Way following 10 defeats in last
Man United should tempt Real Madrid into swapping Alexis Sanchez for Gareth Bale, claims Ray Parlour Both players are struggling to find form and have been linked with high-profile summer
Premier League Red Cards: 3 As the above video displays, Danny Mills was far from the most savage right-back that the Premier League has ever produced, but his more playful side did land him in
Manchester United are in turmoil and Swansea City's Daniel
No comments:
Post a Comment