A calm week lies ahead for Atlético de Madrid, enjoying a short vacation after the draw against Real Madrid last Saturday. The red-and-whites will return to training in Majadahonda tomorrow to start preparing for next weekend's match against Celta de Vigo. In the last 21 matches, the colchonero team has achieved 19 wins, two draws, and only one defeat in their visit to Leganés in January.
The general feeling after the tie at the Santiago Bernabéu was bitter for most of the squad, as the sense is that they could have won. There were several dangerous actions that weren't managed well, partly due to not having the calmness when finishing in the opponent's area. The good news, which surely doesn't please Pep Guardiola, is that Simeone keeps one of his most important footballers at a good level.
Manchester City's Biggest Mistake
Last summer, few could have thought that Pep Guardiolawas going to make one of the biggest mistakes of his coaching career by allowing Julián Alvarez to leave. It's true that the world champion wasn't indisputable for the Spanish coach, but his contribution in different contexts had been very important. He was the natural substitute for Erling Haaland when the Norwegian suffered an injury that kept him in the infirmary for several matches, taking on a lot of prominence.
The Argentine's numbers last season were 19 goals and 13 assists, despite starting many matches as a winger and not as a forward. So far, Manchester City is experiencing its worst season with Pep Guardiola while Simeone has managed to turn around the bad situation from last season. In fact, barring any surprises, everything points to Julián Alvarez being able to surpass the figures he achieved last year at the English club.
The Top Scorer at the Metropolitano
After converting the penalty against Real Madrid, he now has 17 goals this season with Atlético de Madrid, being the top scorer for the red-and-white team. At the beginning of the season, it was difficult for him to start, as Simeone had been trying him in different positions to find his best version. He has now found it, and Julian Alvarez is showing all his quality and personality against any opponent and in all scenarios.
Obviously, he has a much more important role than at Manchester City, his main desire when making the decision to leave the Premier League. If he continues at this pace, he could surpass the figures of previous forwards like Luis Suárez and Álvaro Morata, both reaching 21 goals. The next challenge will be Celta de Vigo, a rival he already scored against in the first leg, which would be one of his first decisive goals of the season.