Three Atlético stars under pressure to deliver immediately
Atlético Madrid has started the 2025 Club World Cup with a clear 0:4 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. Significant weaknesses were evident in all parts of the team. For the second group match against the Seattle Sounders, coach Diego Simeone will have to draw personnel consequences. Particularly, three players were unable to convince against PSG.
Rodrigo De Paul
In central midfield, Rodrigo De Paul failed to bring order to the game. He made numerous ball losses and was inferior in many one-on-one situations. Especially in transition situations, it became clear that De Paul had hardly any access to the opponent's game structure.
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He was also ineffective offensively, as he rarely moved sensibly into the spaces or brought tempo into the game. A temporary rotation seems sensible - players like Koke or Pablo Barrios could provide more control and presence in the center.
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann was almost invisible. He was unable to give the game structure or creativity, remained without dangerous shots, and hardly found any connection to his teammates. His usually strong work against the ball was also hardly visible.
Spanish media particularly criticized his passivity and lack of initiative in the offensive game. In a tournament with short recovery time, a break could do the veteran good - alternatives like Julián Álvarez or Alexander Sørloth offer themselves to bring fresh wind into the offense.
Robin Le Normand
In the central defense, Robin Le Normand revealed significant weaknesses. He was repeatedly poorly positioned, lost important one-on-one situations, and caused a penalty through a handball. His coordination with neighboring player Lenglet seemed error-prone, the center was open to PSG's fast attackers.
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Especially with high balls and in positional play, he made simple but consequential mistakes. For the next game, a change in the defensive line is urgently needed. Players like José María Giménez or César Azpilicueta could provide more stability.
Who disappointed you the most? Feel free to write your opinion in the comments.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
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