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Luis Suárez has not scored for three games, but Diego Simeone is hopeful that the Atlético de Madrid forward will soon regain his best form.
Atlético de Madrid manager Diego Simeone takes full responsibility for Luis Suárez’s disappointing recent form after suggesting that perhaps he hastily pulled the striker out of his coronavirus-imposed firing too soon. Suarez missed four games, including a reunion with the former Barcelona team, after testing positive for Covid-19 while off international duty with Uruguay last month.
The 33-year-old marked his return to action with a goal in a 4-0 win over Cádiz, but has since failed to find the net in his last three appearances, totaling 200 minutes on the pitch. He failed to test Thibaut Courtois on his only shot in last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Real Madrid and his 10 completions were the lowest of any Atlético player on the day. Going further back, Suárez has only scored once in his last six appearances for the club in all competitions, but Simeone has faith that the former Barcelona player can regain his best form.
“The first person in charge of its form is me”, Simeone said at a press conference prior to Saturday’s LaLiga clash with Elche. “As soon as he recovered from the coronavirus, we had to face him immediately with no time to train. But that could prove important, as it has given him the opportunity to find his rhythm. We hope to find the player this team needs, decisive, strong movement , good in the area. “
Coast available
Forward companion Diego Costa returns to the fray For the visit of Elche as Atleti they intend to return to the path of victory in LaLiga against an opponent who they have defeated six games in a row, keeping a clean sheet in the last four of them. The Spanish international has only participated five times in all competitions this year due to injuries and a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, which has left him out since December 21.
“Diego trained [on Thursday] with the group and played about 20 minutes, “said Simeone.” It looked good so [on Saturday] will be with us. This is good news for him and of course for the team. He brings something different, some added aggressiveness, which I hope he can show. We have to adapt to what is happening, but with Diego I see a very positive and mentally strong boy. We hope that when he returns to the field he can give us a lot. “
Atleti’s loss to Real Madrid last week was the first in 27 league games since February, a streak that includes eight wins and two draws this season.
The key to the LaLiga leader’s form has been Marcos Llorente, who has become a more offensive player with Simeone.
Llorente thanked Simeone in an interview this week for helping him get the most out of it, but the Argentine coach insists there is still more to come.
“Coaches are here to improve footballers,” he said. “The biggest prize we can win when we stop training, besides titles, is surpassed by the fact that footballers can say ‘a coach like that improved me.
“It is our demand, to find how to empower our players and when we saw Marcos, when he played in training for the substitute team he always scored a goal.
“One day, two, three, four … until I thought I had to play with him in a position other than central midfield. We talked about it, we tried it, we looked for that space and that he believed it, which is the most full.
“We find ourselves with a humble and hard-working person and a footballer in continuous growth, who has a lot to improve. We have to keep giving and improving.”
Atlético will be without Ivo Grbic this weekend after the goalkeeper, who debuted in the Copa del Rey during the week against Cardassar, tested positive for coronavirus.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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