Atlético Madrid had an unexpected beginning in the Spanish League. After paying more than 170 million euros (USD 198 million) In this pass market, it was assumed as one of the great contenders to keep the championship, but its irregular start with defeat against Espanyol and two draws against Elche and Alavés They left him closer to the descent positions than the first places.
Despite this reality, the fans Colchonera He has the illusion of reverse this situation over the season. And he has from his side to Julián Álvarez, its maximum figure and author of a goal at the Liguero premiere against Espanyol. The skills of the Spider They are in sight with 30 goals and 8 assists in 60 duels With the Madrid entity and, in the midst of the FIFA date, its coach, Diego Simeonehe praised the great star of the team.
In talk with the Spanish program COPE’s great gameSimeone underwent a brief game in which he had to choose between Julián and several great present players worldwide. They named Giulian Simeone, Jude Bellingham, Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Cole Palmer, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius and Kylian Mbappé, but always had the same answer: “Julián Álvarez”. There is only one surname that twists its optics: “Unless you say (Lionel) Messi, I like Julian”. These expressions opened the debate with the native of Calchín, who came out seventh in the Gold Ball 2023but it comes from staying outside the last two nominations.
The Cordoba reached the cast rojiblanco in the middle of 2024 for a millionaire figure that could climb more than 90 million euros (USD 105 million) Between fixed sum and objectives, according to ESPN. In this way, the former player of Manchester City He moved away from Haaland to make his own way and strengthened himself as a headline in his first experience in Spain.
In another extract of the interview, the Cholo Simeone referred to a displacement he had with one of the members of a delegation of the UEFAthe former referee Carlos Velasco Carballowhen the authority presented them with the change in the rule of double touch in a penalty, but using a different action from that of the prison of Julián Álvarez In the series against Real Madrid by the eighths of the Champions League 2024/25. That execution entered the network, but it was invalidated and now the IFAB formalized that, on future occasions, the maximum penalty is repeated instead of the shooting.
“They were explaining the new rules. In a video a penalty appeared with a player who kicked the ball, fell with both legs and kicked the ball with both legs. Velasco normally commented that, from this situation, the norm was going to change Because … then, I allowed myself to say: ‘Excuse me, why they don’t show us the play. You come to the house of Atlético de Madrid, where the rule began to change because it passed on our court, at least I had the sensitivity and respect to say that this play passed because we believe it was double touchbecause the referee had to decide at a very fast moment the decision he made and we understand it … ‘but that he comes to say that the rule changed showing us a play in which a boy fell … I’m ashamed. I got up and left”, He declared a few days after the premiere of this Wednesday from 16 (Argentine time) against Liverpool by the League phase of the Champions.
On the other hand, he referred to the lazy beginning of his squad with only two points on nine possible in the League of Spain: “It is a moment of difficulty in which you do not have to hide, that it is clear. We accept the criticism that is fair, because we have not made the points that could be generated, but the most important thing is to find the team, see what was done wrong and accentuate what was done well.”
He then said that the Athletes He does not have the requirement to win a title at this time, but the obligation is to reverse this bad actuality: “We always seek to win against what we have to face, and win goes to win titles, but it would not be good to talk about winning titles at this time, but to focus on improving the team and making the steps we must take for the team to grow. Do I want to win titles? Sure, but we have to think about walking before running”.
Atlético Madrid He will leave behind these two weeks of rest for the FIFA date and return to the ring this Saturday from 4 pm against Villarreal in a local condition for the fourth date of the domestic tournament.
