Possibly, one of the players who is leaving the best impressions at Atlético de Madrid at the start of the season is Marcos Llorente. The Spaniard has started with a great level in the red-and-white team, adapting perfectly to the position of wing-back. In fact, there is no one in the colchoneros team who does not see him as a starter in that position for the rest of the season.
Marcos Llorente has no competition on the right wing at the moment, and is far superior to Nahuel Molina . The Argentine defender had a great chance against Espanyol , but was substituted after the break, having given a poor performance. The full-back has been raising questions since last season and needs to raise his level if he wants to be a protagonist again under Simeone .
Marcos Llorente is now indisputable
It is no surprise that the Spaniard has managed to adapt to the wing, as Simeone has been using him in that position for some time now. Marcos Llorente has been one of the positive notes this season , having managed to score two goals and assist on another occasion. Along with Pablo Barrios , he may be the only player in the rojiblanco squad who is considered irreplaceable at the moment.
Marcos Llorente has always said that he is not convinced by the idea of playing as a wing-back, preferring to play further forward. However, the poor form that Nahuel Molina has been showing in defence has forced Simeone to make changes in that position. It seems very unlikely that the Spaniard will be displaced in the starting line-up , especially taking into account his current performances.
Many Atlético de Madrid fans have even considered it an injustice that he has not been called up to the Spanish national team . In these first four games, he has been one of the best footballers on the national scene, scoring against Villarreal and Girona in LaLiga . Now, Marcos Llorente can take advantage of this September break to rest, continue working and be able to defend his starting position in the next match against Valencia .
Nahuel Molina, in serious trouble
Last season, the Argentine full-back was one of the most criticised at Atlético de Madrid due to his poor level on the pitch. It is true that Nahuel Molina had some very good months , specifically at the end of the 2022-23 season. However, he has not shown that great version again, leaving many doubts in defence and losing his starting position in these first clashes.
Logically, Nahuel Molina will have more opportunities during this campaign, but he is starting to run out of options. The world champion will have to recover his best form at Atlético de Madrid if he wants to win Simeone's trust again. Marcos Llorente does not want to make the competition for the right back position easy, as Nahuel Molina is starting to run out of time at the Metropolitano.