Simeone pays extra attention to Atletico star during defensive work

Atletico Madrid supervisor Diego Simeone has been utilizing the time on the coaching floor this worldwide break to focus in on a selected space along with his aspect. The Argentine coach has been famed for defensive fortitude in his sides, however this season it has been Atletico’s largest weak point.

The early going for Los Colchoneros has seen Atletico fail to deal with their defensive points from late final season. By the opening levels of the season, Los Rojiblancos have managed only a singular clear sheet for Jan Oblak, who final 12 months one of many Zamora Award for one of the best goalkeeper in La Liga, after averaging the least quantity of targets conceded over a minimal of 26 video games.

Simeone focuses in on Atletico Madrid defensive points

As such, Simeone has been honing his defensive system over the past 10 days, coaching with Matteo Ruggeri, Clement Lenglet, Jose Maria Gimenez and Marc Pubill in a again 4, with Koke Resurreccion and Conor Gallagher alternating as the primary midfielder forward of the defence. Simeone’s ‘obsession’, as Diario AS put it, is to have his aspect defend additional away from purpose, increased up the pitch, and be extra aggressive in stopping counter-attacks. That features declaring on quite a few events that if crucial, which means committing a foul to forestall a harmful counter.

🚨 TODAY’S XI IN TRAINING:

Cloud

Pubill – Gimenez – Lenglet

CARLOS MARTIN – Gallagher – Koke – Almada – Ruggeri

Sørloth – Griezmann@marca pic.twitter.com/mgv56l2imf

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) October 15, 2025

Conor Gallagher receives particular consideration

One of many gamers that got here in for probably the most consideration in these periods was Conor Gallagher, who has solely had fleeting alternatives in the midst of midfield. Simeone was eager to right his positioning, notably when crosses are available in, asking the ex-Chelsea man to pay extra consideration to his marker than the ball.

Gallagher could have elevated shot at central midfield position

Final season Gallagher spent extra time on the left of midfield than within the center, and it was anticipated that he would discover alternatives more durable to return by with the arrival of Johnny Cardoso. But the USMNT midfielder has struggled with harm early on, and is at present recovering from an ankle problem. He was as a consequence of be eased again in after the worldwide break, however after a blow to his ankle on Tuesday, didn’t prepare on Wednesday. Cardoso’s restoration is anticipated to be slowed in consequence.