“It’s the most difficult thing in football,” Simeone responds when they talk to him about “regularity.” The Athletic it is not being a reliable teamespecially far from home, but now it has chained three consecutive victoriesone in the Cup (Vic), another in the League (Las Palmas) and especially the Champions League (PSG), which can be a turning point in the season.
Dull victories
Of course, the result should not serve to cover up that far from the Metropolitano, the rojiblancos lack shine. Their four wins this season have been similar. Correa scored against Athletic Club in injury time (0-1). The Argentine was also the protagonist in the Parque de los Príncipes, where the Madrid residents were close to a great Oblak to hit hard on the few occasions they had (1-2). The same script was that of the victory in Vigo, the second 0-1, with the goalkeeper leading the resistance and Julián Álvarez as the executor instead of Correa. The fourth away victory was against the weak Vic. That time it was 0-2, but the first goal did not come until the 81st minute, due to a controversial penalty.
“The idea is the same”
In the last two seasons, Atlético has debated whether to be a team more open and purposeful or more speculativeand the players seem to feel more comfortable with the second option, at least away from their stadium. «This is Atlético. We needed a game like that, worked tactically,” Griezmann said in Paris after the exercise of resistance and forcefulness. For Simeone, the idea is the same. «It has been seen for twelve years. We cannot always respond at the highest level, but it is a team that works as a blockit doesn’t matter if it is higher or lower. With Las Palmas it was higher, with PSG it was lower,” says the coach. At home, Atlético has scored twelve goals and conceded two. Out, 6-5. Today he visits Mallorca to not get any further away from the lead in LaLiga.
