Title: Atlético de Madrid Begins Preparations for the 2023-24 LaLiga Season amidst Uncertainty
Date: July 11, 2023
The Mattress Club, Atlético de Madrid, has commenced their training for the upcoming 2023-24 LaLiga season. In their first two days of concentration in the Segovian mountains, the team has been working tirelessly under the guidance of coach Diego Simeone to establish a formidable starting eleven. However, several key players including Álvaro Morata, Thomas Lemar, and Joao Félix find themselves in uncomfortable situations as they await potential offers to leave the club.
Although a few players, like Jan Oblak who is recovering from a cervical problem, have not yet joined the training sessions, Simeone has been focusing on building a team around players like Nahuel Molina, Yannick Carrasco, Stefan Savic, José María Giménez, and Mario Hermoso. The midfield is expected to consist of Rodrigo de Paul, Koke Resurrección, and Saúl Ñíguez, while Ángel Correa and Antoine Griezmann will lead the attack. However, conspicuously missing from this lineup is Joao Félix, who is facing a challenging summer. Returning from a loan at Chelsea, Félix has struggled to regain his previous form and find his place in the team. It is widely believed that he may be heading towards an exit from the club.
Simeone’s team selection during practice sessions and tactical exercises indicates that Félix’s future lies away from Atlético de Madrid. In recent tests, Félix was relegated to the second choice and even left out of the main squad in some instances. Expressing his frustration, Félix’s body language during these practices has made it clear that he is dissatisfied with his current situation.
While Simeone continues to fine-tune his lineup, the absence of key players like Jan Oblak and Memphis Depay, who are recovering from injuries, adds a degree of uncertainty. Additionally, other players such as Morata, Lemar, and Marcos Llorente are yet to establish themselves in the starting eleven due to various factors including injuries and transfer speculation.
Notably, the club’s four recent signings, César Azpilicueta, Caglar Soyuncu, Santiago Mouriño, and Javi Galán, have also not made it into the regular starting eleven under Simeone’s guidance. Their inclusion remains uncertain, and their performance in upcoming friendly matches will be crucial in determining their roles within the team.
As Atlético de Madrid continues their intense training sessions in Los Ángeles de San Rafael, it appears that the team’s tactical approach structured around Simeone’s preferred lineup is repeatedly coming into play. Notwithstanding, advancements in the team’s composition and these practice sessions will likely bring more clarity about the team’s strategy for the upcoming season.
In conclusion, Atlético de Madrid’s preparation for the 2023-24 LaLiga season has begun with Diego Simeone prioritizing specific players in the formation of his starting eleven. The team’s progress is shadowed by uncertainties surrounding the futures of several players, most notably Joao Félix, as well as the integration of recent signings. With a month remaining until the start of the season and crucial friendly matches on the horizon, Atlético de Madrid still has much to ponder before the final lineup takes shape.