Untouchable Antoine Griezmann, the passing of the matches has installed a delicate debate in Atlético’s offensive game due to the relevance of one of those affected. It is questioned whether, at 34 years old and with his physical ailments, Luis Suárez is the right striker for appointments like this Sunday, in which it is normal that during sections of the match the rojiblancos footballers have to defend in their own field. The ability of the emerging Matheus Cunha to attack wide spaces at speed such as those that may appear against Madrid, or to stretch the team with powerful conductions, has fueled the issue. This season, there have been several games in which Atlético has given the feeling of not being able to break the pressure of the opponent and deploy in attack with Luis Suárez as an offensive reference. One of the priorities of the counterattack, the historic hallmark of Atlético that Simeone preaches so much, is speed and Cunha’s is superior to that of the Uruguayan striker. In the confrontation with Porto, the debate surfaced and the dilemma facing Simeone was reinforced. Luis Suárez was injured after ten minutes of play and was replaced by Cunha. The Brazilian starred in actions that by physicality are already out of the reach of Suárez’s legs, such as a powerful 40-meter ride dodging rivals that was not a goal because Pepe avoided it.
Asked if the characteristics of Cunha are more feasible to play the counterattack than those of Suárez, Simeone did not take part for either of them. “Depending on who plays alongside him. If they are Carrasco and Correa, Suárez may be better, if Lemar, De Paul and Koke share it in the middle it may be Cunha ”, reasoned the coach. Last season, Simeone himself explained the step forward taken by the team to bring Luis Suárez closer to the opposite area surrounded by footballers who supplied him with centers.
Cholo is a fervent apostle of hierarchies and does not seem inclined to relegate Luis Suárez to the games in which Atlético more clearly adopts the role of dominator. “Luis is Luis,” they warn the club. The respect that the figure of the charrúa inspires in Simeone for his career, for the 21 goals that contributed to the league title and the eights of this course outweigh Cunha’s virtues to play against. “I admire Luis,” Simeone confesses. “34 years, playing and having won everything he won. Against Porto, having had to leave because he did not feel that in that game he could be one hundred percent for what the team needed, and celebrating as he celebrated the goals of Griezmann and Correa and De Paul. That speaks for itself of what Suárez is like. It will be in the call and then we will make the decision of whether to start or leave later ”.
The annoyances that caused Suárez to request the change in Porto are not a full guarantee that Cunha will start at the Bernabéu either. The last test that Simeone carried out pointed to a defense of five, Correa as the fourth midfielder for the retreat and Griezmann in attack. The Frenchman, seven goals, is undoubtedly Simeone’s top attacker, who celebrates the growth of the Frenchman and that the fans no longer reproach him for the ways used to sign for Barcelona. “Antoine always wanted to go back and he is where he wants to be,” says Simeone. With Griezmann, Cholo feels that he has developed the ideal mold of what a star at Atlético should be. “We need him above all from the efforts he has maintained in recent games. All his talent will not be taken away by anyone, or anything, and that is what makes him strong. Talent, more sacrifice, more effort, more knowing how to compete and play anywhere on the field, like the other day when he had to occupy the left lane when Carrasco was sent off ”, Simeone pondered in what seemed an indirect explanation of João’s substitutions Felix.
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