Simeone received one of the worst possible news for the squad yesterday, as Pablo Barrios has a muscle injury in his left leg and could be out for several weeks. The Spanish midfielder was one of the best players at the beggining of the season, making several starts. Now, in a month with so many games, Atlético de Madrid will need a step forward from the less usual players.
One of those who returned to training yesterday is Thomas Lemar , who has not yet been able to make his debut this season. The Frenchman was present during the preseason , having a certain prominence in some of the friendlies. For now, he has not been included in any of the squads, but it would be a great time for him to return and replace Pablo Barrios .
Thomas Lemar, a missing player
The French world champion is experiencing his most difficult season with the Colchoneros, facing several obstacles. He started the pre-season well, training with the rest of his teammates and getting minutes in the preparation friendlies . However, he disappeared from training and has not yet entered any of Simeone 's squad lists.
In fact, Thomas Lemar is one of the few players who has not yet had the opportunity to show his level on the pitch this season. Until the last day of the transfer market, Atlético de Madrid had tried to find a new destination for him to free up his contract. However, as has happened in other summers, there was no club willing to accept the arrival of the Frenchman even on loan.
Now, with Pablo Barrios ' muscle injury, Thomas Lemar could see his first minutes in the red-and-white team. The midfield has a large number of pieces, but Simeone has been left somewhat short with the loss of his youth squad. There are no great expectations among the fans, although Thomas Lemar still does not know what it is like to play an official match since his serious injury at Mestalla .
Simeone faces a difficult month
This September is going to be a real test for Atlético de Madrid , with a good squad being key. There are only three players in the squad who have not yet made their debut under Simeone , having given opportunities to the rest. After the clash against Valencia, the Rojiblancos will play their first match in the Champions League in a demanding duel against Leipzig.
On the other hand, the Atlético de Madrid will have a schedule in the league championship that will leave them very little time to rest. Thus, everything points to Simeone being forced to make certain rotations to avoid further muscular problems. September could be a turning point for an Atlético de Madrid that has left a good taste in the mouth at the start of this campaign.