Simeone Puts Atleti's Bench Players Through Their Paces Ahead of Espanyol Clash
Atlético Madrid returned to training after their Champions League draw with Bruges, with Simeone running position-specific drills for his fringe players.
Atlético Madrid were back at it on the Majadahonda grass on Thursday, picking themselves up after Tuesday’s Champions League stalemate with Club Brugge and turning their attention pretty sharpish to the weekend’s La Liga fixture against Espanyol.
Two Groups, Two Sessions
Simeone split his squad into two distinct groups — the lads who started against Brugge headed indoors to the gym, while the substitutes got a proper workout on the pitch. It’s the kind of session that tells you a fair bit about how the Cholo operates: nobody’s getting a free ride just because they weren’t involved in the big one.
The subs’ session wasn’t just a jog around the park either. The coaching staff ran position-specific drills tailored to each player’s role — proper technical and tactical work, not just going through the motions.
Who Did What
For those who did feature from the start against Brugge, the gym work was broken down by position:
- Centre-backs — Giménez, Le Normand and Lenglet worked on defensive situations alongside some of the academy lads, focusing on protecting the box.
- Midfielders — Cardoso, Vargas and Mendoza drilled the technical basics: link-up play, one-twos and switching the ball.
- Attackers — Baena, Almada and Sorloth were put through finishing exercises in and around the area.
Once the position work was done, Simeone brought everyone together for a 10v10 small-sided game — the substitutes going up against a team of canteranos. Good way to keep the intensity up and give the academy boys a proper test at the same time.
Injury News
Two notable absentees from the main group: Pablo Barrios and Nico González are both still working their way back from injury and weren’t part of either session. Barrios was spotted doing some running on the pitch at the Ciudad Deportiva, which at least suggests he’s making progress — but neither player looks likely to be in contention just yet.
What’s Next
Friday’s session will be the last one before Espanyol rock up to the Metropolitano, and that’s when we should get a clearer picture of what Simeone’s got in mind for La Liga. With the Champions League knockout stages in the background and a congested run of fixtures ahead, squad rotation is going to be a proper talking point over the coming weeks.
Atléti fans will be hoping the bench players are sharp and ready — because they’re going to be needed.