In a very complicated situation for a few months, Atlético de Madrid has conceded a lot of goals. A new phenomenon for the Colchoneros who have been a reference team for many years in this sector of the game. Defensive problems which are becoming really serious and which will force Diego Simeone to rectify the situation as quickly as possible.
Fifth in La Liga, Atlético de Madrid will clearly have a hard time defending their title. Relegated to 15 points from Real Madrid, the Colchoneros will even have to fight to finish in one of the first four places in order to qualify for the Champions League. A situation which can be explained by a failing offensive sector where the abundance of goods does not make it possible to find the right animation. With elements like Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez, Angel Correa, Joao Felix and Matheus Cunha for the two attacking positions, Diego Simeone still seems to be groping. If the Colchoneros still have the third attack in the championship with 42 goals in 23 games played, the attacking players tend to evolve in the same areas. Especially since Thomas Lemar and Yannick Carrasco (even if the latter has a more needy profile due to his piston experience) are often starters and tend to return to the axis (especially the first quoted editor’s note). If this is an area for improvement that the mattress club must have, the big problem for Atlético de Madrid is its defensive sector.
In the midfield, the double pivot composed of Rodrigo De Paul and Koke often finds himself in numerical inferiority whether in 3-5-2 or in 4-4-2. And even if they perform well, they can’t be everywhere. In the case of Hector Herrera and Geoffrey Kondogbia we have two profiles that can bring good to the balance, but which are more limited on the creative aspect compared to the two usual starters. Fumbled for a while on the search for a balance, Diego Simeone does not seem to find the solution and it seems to be getting worse over the months. It’s simple, in the last 9 league matches, Atlético de Madrid has won only 3 times for 1 draw and 5 defeats. Then conceding 19 goals over this period, the club from the Spanish capital was ingloriously eliminated in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup by Athletic Bilbao (2-1) and in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by Real Sociedad (2-0). A really complicated situation which directs the band of Diego Simeone towards a white season.
A historically weak season
Hanging victories on the wire after suffering a lot against Valencia (3-2) and Getafe (4-3), the Colchoneros also learned a lesson at Camp Nou against FC Barcelona (4-2). A match that highlighted the defensive shortcomings encountered by Diego Simeone and his band. “We have been defending extraordinarily for ten years and it does not generate what he usually does. You have to improve, a week comes to insist on this type of action. We also lacked luck and care. Every goalscoring situation they had, they generated a goal. We haven’t changed many players, apart from Trippier, who left. They play the same ones who last year responded at a high level. Giménez and Savic missed several games, but this time they played and they (FC Barcelona editor’s note) beat us up. What matters is to work, try to improve and face the week with humility and push to the end. explained the Argentine technician after the defeat against the Blaugranas.
It’s true that if we analyze the Matelassiers rearguard we realize that José María Giménez (2013), Jan Oblak (2014) and Stefan Savic (2015) have been there for a long time just like Sime Vrsaljko (2016), Mario Hermoso (2019), Renan Lodi (2019) and Felipe Monteiro (2019). The only additions took place this winter with Reinildo Mandava (from Lille) and Daniel Wass (from Valencia) who had little playing time. The first was rather interesting while the second arrived physically diminished. So stability is clearly not the concern in these defensive ailments. However, the finding is relentless with already 33 goals conceded 15 days from the end, Atlético is already experiencing its worst defensive exercise of the Simeone era. Arrived in December 2011, he has already had nine previous full years for this record: 31 goals conceded in 2012/2013, 26 goals conceded in 2013/2014, 29 goals conceded in 2014/2015, 18 goals conceded in 2015/2016, 27 goals conceded in 2016/2017, 22 goals conceded in 2017/2018, 29 goals conceded in 2018/2019, 24 goals conceded in 2019/2020 and 25 goals conceded in 2020/2021.
Stefan Savic and José Maria Gimenez pay for their absences, Jan Oblak in shipwreck
Far from the usual standards and even if the game of Atlético de Madrid has been more offensive since 2018, this vintage 2021/2022 is a stain compared to the precepts imposed by Cholismo. Between José Maria Gimenez who has recurring injuries, Felipe Monteiro, Sime Vrsaljko and Renan Lodi who have been in bad shape for a long time, Mario Hermoso who relapsed after a convincing 2020/2021 exercise and a Marcos Llorente who also had some glitches in the right lane, this offers a team without real insurance. Stefan Savic remains the only one to maintain a certain level, but his injury from December to January coincided with the Matelassiers’ downgrading. With José Maria Gimenez – when he is not injured – they bring a little more serenity to the ranks of Atléti, but for example they took 4 against FC Barcelona when they returned from injury. Besides that and it is a major concern, the catastrophic form of Jan Oblak.
The Slovenian who is one of the best goalkeepers on the planet had saved the furniture last year when the first defensive concerns were felt. This time he is on the front line. Winner of 5 of the last 6 Zamora Trophies (which makes him the most successful with Víctor Valdés and Antoni Ramallets), the Slovenian goalkeeper is this time out of the running and is undergoing a very painful 2021/2022 exercise for him. Achieving only 6 clean sheets in 23 matches, he has the lowest save percentage in the championship with only 49.15%. It is therefore also not surprising to see Atlético have the 12th defense in La Liga (tied with Elche) with these 33 goals conceded. With a key player in such a negative dynamic, it does not help to show serenity on the side of Atlético de Madrid and it reflects on the entire defense. What has always been the strength of the Colchoneros and the base sector of Cholismo is crumbling. Diego Simeone will quickly have to find solutions to treat the bleeding and it starts this Wednesday with the reception of Levante in La Liga.
