100% playing time and best player of the month: Axel Witsel put everyone in his pocket at Atletico Madrid

Arriving on tiptoe this summer, the Liégeois quickly established himself as a safe bet in the Cholo squad. A statistic illustrates this fact: the Red Devil has played absolutely everything since the start of the season. Six meetings and 540 minutes in the legs. A faultless one. Only Reinildo, who arrived from Lille this summer, has played as much as him.

A reliability so impressive that he still apprehends a new position. Which proves that even at 33, you can reinvent yourself. Even if Witsel makes new out of old. In this position, he uses all his calm and precision to perform. As during the meeting against Celta this weekend where he will have succeeded 100% of his passes. What he had also succeeded in Mestalla against Valencia. Except during a meeting against Sociedad, he always peaks at at least 94% of successful passes.

This tranquility contrasts with the boiling Diego Simeone. The two men represent water and fire. The Argentinian is well aware of what the 33-year-old Belgian brings to his squad. “He allows the team to be balanced and gives them serenity to start the match”explained the Cholo. “He arrived with enthusiasm and energy. Above all, he gives us calm”he also added.

“A vision of the game like few others”

Will this new positioning last over time? Difficult to answer the question. Initially, it was just a troubleshooting. Indeed, injuries to Giménez and Savic put him in that position. But his performance caught the eye of his coach. To the point that he would be more than just a fallback to this position and would become a real candidate over time.

Even if Simeone is aware that the qualities of his Swiss army knife can allow him to evolve higher on the chessboard of Colchoneros. “He has a vision of the game like few others”praised the former defensive midfielder again. “He was an extraordinary midfielder thanks to his composure, his positioning and his good passing choices between the lines to do damage. With his qualities, he can also play a little higher.”

The real question was whether he can still be tough enough at dueling. He responded once again where he does it best: on the pitch. Clearly, Axel Witsel never had the profile of the mover. But his height (1.86 m) and his sense of anticipation allow him to vary the game of Colchoneros. “He brings us something different compared to the characteristics we have in the team. We have to continue to take advantage of it”said Simeone.

Especially since tactically, Axel Witsel has adapted at lightning speed. Quickly, he quickly understood the two preferential game patterns of the people of Madrid. Against Celta, he was first partnered with Hermoso in the center of a four-man defence. Then, Simeone chose to go to five and place Witsel to the right of the centrals. In both positions, he was exceptional. His four clearances allowed Grbic to take shelter. While he perfectly compensated for the rises of Nahuel when he had to bring the surplus.

Performances that thrilled everyone at Atletico. From players to fans. The latter therefore did not hesitate to catapult him player of the month for August. In lack of central defenders, Roberto Martinez still refuses to see this option as a possibility in the national team. We can understand it: replacing such an important player of the Devils can undermine the whole balance of the Devils. On the other hand, the Argentinian and the Catalan agree on one point: even at 33, Witsel remains indispensable.