Strap as the only certainty

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When Ángel Correa (Rosario, Argentina, 26 years old) told Atlético teammates and employees about the goal from the middle of the field that scored Villarreal on Sunday, he put more emphasis on faith than on sublime execution. "You always have to have faith to do something when you steal the ball to the contrary," said the small Argentine forward about the beautiful and precise maneuver that highlighted that talent always helps to gain space and time. “When I saw that the ball stayed close to me, I knew I could try and when I hit the ball, the first thing I thought was that the same thing was not reaching me or that it was going high, but there was a moment when I already knew that I was going in. I was not aware that the action had been so fast, "he described with a laugh.

The spectacular goal came just five days after the club announced the extension of its contract until 2026 - it expired in June 2024 - with the consequent improvement in its emoluments. If he fulfills the commitment, he will complete 12 seasons as a rojiblanco. “His renewal has been a reward for a career, it was planned to make it happen as soon as possible after being a key player in the conquest of the League and not only for the goal in Valladolid. In the moments in which Luis Suárez was less successful or injured, Correa pulled the car ", assure sources close to the rojiblanca sports management.

In the last eight league games last year, he scored five goals that were final for the title. The renovation has not produced the classic misgivings that are sometimes aroused in changing rooms. Correa is the child spoiled by teammates, coaching staff and leadership. He has never raised his voice to complain, although he did show his willingness to leave Atlético if his participation did not increase. Over the seasons his role has grown to become one of the team's mainstays. Also part of the fans that did not finish filling the eye have ended up understanding that he is a footballer who lives by risking in each ball he receives, even if he has failed all the previous actions.

In this Atlético of so few certainties in which Simeone has not just found a stable drawing or a convincing game, Correa has become the most decisive striker. A player with a Guadianesque profile, it turns out that he has also stood out as the most constant attacker. This season he has participated in 13 goals (eight goals and five assists) in all competitions, three more than Griezmann and Luis Suárez, who precede him in this section. “He feels comfortable as a forward, he shows it and he is having continuity in work and in the goal, which is what is required of an attacker. He is one of the best footballers we have to be able to play between the lines for his turns and to make transitions ”, Simeone analyzes him.

The Argentine coach already speaks more about Correa as a forward, the place he always claimed, than as a band player. “His place is up front, he always has been, but we have looked for other situations for him to play. He has always helped us, when he has played as a third forward in 4-3-3 or as a fourth midfielder in 4-4-2 ″, defends the coach. If Correa claimed something when Simeone made him play on the wing, it was that he put a full game on him as a forward. Despite having played many games outside of his ideal position, Correa is the only player to have achieved more than 50 goals (54) and 50 assists and the one who has completed the most dribbles (471) in the Simeone era.

Right now, Luis Suárez, Griezmann, João Félix and Cunha are competing to play alongside him.

Simeone has raised his position within the squad, although he relegated him to the bench when at the beginning of the course he was confident that the rotations would not affect the offensive performance of the team due to the quality of all the forwards.

With Atlético in trouble to secure a spot in the next Champions League, with the imminent Cup tie against Real Sociedad and Manchester United just over a month away in the Champions League, Simeone now considers Correa as his most striker. reliable.

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