Simeone's second unit to save the Cup

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There are few players in the

that at Atlético they have defended their soccer self like the Mexican Héctor Herrera (Rosarito, Mexico; 31 years old). In the rojiblanco squad there is no player who goes more against the style than the Mexican midfielder. The injuries to Kondogbia, Savic, Llorente and Griezmann, and the suspension of Giménez have meant that this Wednesday at the Reale Arena (9:00 p.m., DAZN), Herrera leads a group of footballers who are not indisputable for Simeone because they do not quite fit into his ideology such as Vrsaljko, Lodi, João Félix, Cunha and the Mexican midfielder himself. In the tests that the rojiblanco coach has carried out on his return from the Super Cup, this quintet has been included in the starting eleven that will face Real.

Simeone has long perceived that Herrera is not willing to change his way of playing, no matter how much the coach's script weighs the speed of transitions in the middle of the field and the zero risk in the ball out. Being the last of the midfielders in Cholo's preferences does not respond to a matter of work: Herrera accredits more than 10 kilometers traveled when he plays for more than an hour. The coach respects the Aztec's personality, hierarchy and pause to play the ball, but he does not have him among his preferences. It is included in the ranking of footballers for whom there is only continuity in the starting eleven when the results accompany.

After the defeats, soccer players like the Mexican, Vrsaljko, Lodi or João Félix are the ones who usually jump from the lineups from one game to another. All of them, at some point, have disagreed with the coach's ideas. They do not belong to the group of untouchables for the coach.

Luis Suárez also seems to have entered that sack now, although his substitution tonight is not so clear. It would be the second in a row, after being relegated in Riyadh against Athletic. “We talked at least two months ago about what I think of him, how important he is to us and all the situations that arise in the team with or without him on the pitch. There is not much more, he knows what we talked about, but it was not yesterday, nor the day before yesterday, nor after Sevilla, but two months ago”. If Suárez finally plays, João Félix or Cunha will go to the bench. In the midst of the biggest crisis of results of the

, Atlético can play the pass to the quarterfinals of the Cup with a handful of footballers more related to the attack than to the game, the work and the defensive solidity. “Ancelotti explained it very well on the first dates, when he understood that there was no involvement at a collective level, then there was. Obviously, you can play with a lot of players who play well with good involvement in the game that you have to do, of course, ”Simeone defended yesterday. El Cholo had closed the press conference at the Rey Fahd stadium in Riyadh with a "we need players who get involved" and had no qualms about explaining those words yesterday

Simeone is convinced that “the team will end up appearing”.

At the moment, six months of competition have gone by and he has not found a system or a stable drawing, but his faith seems unshakeable.

“Last year, back in March, when they thought we weren't going to be champions and the team had rebelliousness, continuity, strength and balance to sustain the difficult moment we went through when the advantage was reduced.

Suddenly, we found ourselves in that space where not being champion was a failure and he became champion”, concluded the Argentine coach.

Isak's injury gives way to Sorloth

On the eve of the day of San Sebastián, Imanol Alguacil expects a duel "with a lot of atmosphere and hot".

The Real Sociedad coach will not be able to count on Swedish Isak, who injured his ankle in the last league match against Celta.

His place will be occupied by the Norwegian Alexander Sorloth, who in the League match played at the Metropolitano (2-2) scored a goal and created many problems for the red and white defense.

"Knowing Atlético de Madrid and their coach... When they have it worse and when no one gives a hard for them, they give the callus", said the coach of the Real about the moment in which Atlético arrived at the appointment of this night.

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