With Atlético Madrid arriving in Asia ahead of their scheduled preseason fixtures against J-League side Sagen Tosu and Sven Goeran Eriksson’s managed Shanghai SIPG, el capitán, Gabi, has two vital matches to prove to Diego Simeone he is still reliable and a leader for the new season.
With each day coming closer to the league opener against Las Palmas on the 23rd of August, preparation has already been underway for the los Rojiblancos as Simeone has looked to go beyond the third place finish that lamented the Madrid Club, a year after winning the La Liga title and reaching the Champions League final.
Simeone has made swift and successful signings in what looks to be a team built to challenge Barcelona and Real Madrid for the title this upcoming season, with the likes of Jackson Martínez, Luciano Vietto, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and the recently returned Filipe Luís all being signed to improve on the 16 point difference that separated first from third.
Areas that Simeone noticed as being weak or not suiting Atléti were addressed. With the defence being largely the main contributor to the triumph of the 2013/14 La Liga season, it was surprising to see that it was not as strong as the season prior. The left-back spot vacated by the then departed Luís, was replaced with fellow Brazilian Guilherme Siqueira, however, he failed to live up to the high standards of his predecessor. Now with the re-signing of the left-back, the emergence of José Giménez along with the experienced Diego Godín and Juanfran, the defence looks strong and steady for the new campaign.
The next major concern for Simeone was goals. Both Valencia (4th) and Sevilla (5th) scored more than Atléti in third place. With a poorly record of 67 goals scored in the league and over reliance on lead goal scorer Antoine Griezmann, Simeone quickly moved in strengthening his strike force with the acquisition of Martínez, Vietto and Carrasco.
So for the defensive and attacking concerns from the previous season addressed, it left one notable issue not currently acknowledged and that is among the centre of the pitch, the heart of Atléti’s midfield. Gabi, who had a tremendous season which nearly lead his team to a historic double in 2013-14, slipped enormously in performance throughout the last season.
From playing every game bar suspensions in the 2014-15 season, Gabi went to being subbed 13 times and even being left out entirely for the important Champions League second leg against Bayer Leverkusen, also only playing the second-half of the second leg against rivals Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.
A complete midfielder, Gabi possesses arrange of talent. A ball winner with exceptional vision and distributing, his combative and tireless style was largely successful under Simeone and help to settle the play for his teammates. Gabi has the ability to play deep, both to create and provide cover for the defence, or set up the strikers and wingers in the final third, pick a pass and provide set pieces.
However, perhaps due to the loss of Diego Costa or due to exhaustion from featuring almost every game the season prior, Gabi’s performances were largely disappointing the last term. His passing was not the same and his abilities to pick a through ball in the final third were non-existent. While his tireless and combative style remained, Gabi was not able to control the game or open his teammates like he used to.
With the decision to move Koke into his preferred central-midfield role, the need for a strong combative midfielder is needed to not only protect the defence but to also provide space for Koke to utilise his talents and create opportunities for the strikers.
However, that role is now seemingly not guaranteed to the captain. Gabi, who is already competing against Tiago, Saúl Ñíguez and Óliver Torres looks to be also up against former Atléti player Thiago Motta, if the player gets his wish and moves to the Vicente Calderón this summer.
The not so kept secret of Motta of wanting out of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain has been well known for a while now, yet since his announcement of leaving only two teams expressed strong interest in making a move for the former Champions League winner, the two of which are his former Clubs, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid.
Having being part of José Mourinho’s historically treble triumph at Inter back in 2010, Motta has apparently favoured a move back to La Liga with Atléti, as a his first spell was hugely disappointing in the Italian international’s eyes, injuries plaguing his one year in the Spanish capital.
“We have talked about Atlético Madrid, a club where I have been but I have not done everything I wanted to do like I did with the other clubs where I have played”, Motta stated.
“This is an important challenge”.
Motta’s desire to leave for Atléti seemingly seems close with PSG boss, Laurent Blanc, admitting the transfer is “progressing”, however, “not totally finalised”.
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At the age of 32, Motta provides the now, rather than the future in midfield for Simeone, however, his ability to protect the defence, sit deep and win possession and be able to distribute with consistency and intelligence is still world class and largely desired. Similar traits to that of Gabi, one can assume if Motta arrives in Madrid, Gabi’s place is the first that is under threat.
Gabi also aged 32, does not have time on his side and if the potential arrival of Motta beckons, the captain is going to have to do more than just provide the leadership among the team but return to that previous top level that helped contribute to a league title and Champions League final.
Simeone favours his trusty Lieutenants, however, the signings made this summer signal the determination to compete both domestically and in Europe. If the captain is failing to perform, there is a like-for-like replacement awaiting. This preseason Gabi is going to have to prove to Simeone, he still is Atléti’s complete midfielder.
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