So, the story goes like this.
They said that one of the toughest and trickiest ties in La Liga is playing away at Sevilla. They are a very good team, well coached and have a good home record. It's a place where Madrid and Barcelona always worry of travelling to because of dropping points, especially when it's near the end of the season, and no mistakes can be made.
When I saw that Atletico were coming to play Sevilla, I expected this to be a close game. I would now like to know why the heck these ex-convicts were able to rearrange Sevilla in their backyard by three goals?
I suppose these things happen, and it means Emery will need to do some re-thinking because of the loss of their star striker, Bacca. As for Simeone and Atletico, I never really gave his boys any hope this season of challenging Real and Barcelona to make it a three-way race as it was two seasons ago. But with this very comprehensive victory against a top-six team and having two wins and looking very solid and robust, could Simeone surprise the world again and topple the mammoth giants of Barcelona and Madrid?
That answer lies in two players who will make or break their season. One is Jackson Martinez, the man tasked to replace Costa and the very impressive Griezmann.
His goal against Sevilla came with five minutes to go with Atletico already two up. But what was good about that G was how he could play off a one-two and score from outside the area. This is something that Mandzukic just can't do. Zukic is good, but the problem with him is that he's limited, which is an issue that Allegri will now have to deal with this season.
The Croatian can't beat two men and score, and I can't remember when last he scored goal that went in the top corner from outside the 18-yard box. Martinez has already proven that he can do that, and knows what it means to carry the burden of being the main striker for a team, which is what he did for Porto and why he was captain and WHY he was coveted by so many teams.
Simeone just has to really try and get him linking up with Koke, Gabi and Griezmann so that he understands how the team plays and can make the right runs, and try and hit that twenty goal mark which I am sure is possible if he is in sync with the team. So I'm not saying that I am skeptical, because I have no real evidence to back up that Martinez will fail, but at the same time all because you are a hit in Portugal where the quality is not on the level of La Liga, does not mean you can be an instant success. But I do think Martinez is working with one of the best drug-dealers....sorry, managers in the game. Simeone can get a lot more out of Jackson than Mandzukic who just can't offer as much variety as a striker that Martinez can.
Griezmann is Ateltico's most important attacking player. Godin may be their best and most important player, but Griezmann is the jewel in the crown. If he plays well and is effective in a game, then there is a very good chance that Atletico can win. He pretty much has taken over the role that has been vacated by Arda Turan and is now the creative player in the team. Every team has to have one. Especially in today's game where it's even tougher for teams without the finances to win anything, a very well-skilled creator that you can keep a hold of is extremely vital. Simeone just has to keep pushing Griezmann and make him aim to be the best player in his position in the world. He should gradually evolve into having a free-role and try and take his game to the next level where he can navigate across that space between the midfield and defense and thread balls in through for your man, Jackson.
It won't be easy for Atletico. Madrid and Barcelona have some extremely dangerous players. Bale seems to have awoken into Beast-Mode for now, and there is NO answer for Barcelona when the three South-American killers play. But one thing that Atletico has over those teams is Simeone. He has to be one of the best managers working in the game today. He did his best with the losses of Filipe Luis (who is back) and Costa. Now, with Turan gone it's going to be another challenge for him, but if Martinez and Griezmann can bring their A-game this season and they just keep up their momentum by being physical and very tough to beat with their tenacity, then there is every chance that his tactical masterclass can make his boys pip Madrid and Barcelona.
HH
