Don’t tell me about other players who are not on Luis Enrique’s list. I’m not interested. Nor am I going to ask that anyone be removed from the list. It is not my style to criticize some to praise others. Just what I need you to explain to me is why the central defender with the best ball out of the league champion team is on vacation right now. With a title like the crown of a pine tree under his arm, but on vacation. Really, Why is Mario Hermoso already resting when he should be packing for the Euro Cup? I am writing it and I still do not believe that his absence is real, that is why I am going to explain the reasons why his non-call seems inexplicable to me.
Mario Hermoso has had a spectacular year with Atlético de Madrid. Tremendous. One of the central axes, never better said, of the League champion. Mario has played 31 of Atlético’s 38 games in the domestic competition and has started 30. Only the covid-19 prevented him from adding more minutes, but beware, not even the damn virus managed to slow down his progression. The Madrid defender has grown in every way in his second year as a mattress maker. He has also gained hierarchy at Atlético through tactics, where he has been decisive. In Simeone’s new 3-5-2 or 5-3-2, Hermoso has been vital. Why? Because apart from his defensive strength he is an expert in getting the ball played, both short and long. Wait a minute, stop the presses! Getting the ball played with quality … which team needs that? Maybe one that goes to the Eurocup. Well, let’s move on.
I focus on the tactical part. Anyone who has seen Atlético’s games knows that the long lanes with Carrasco and Trippier have been decisive. The ball, when it got there, generated danger, but for the ball to get there, there had to be an association between teammates. Koke, of course, was in almost all of them, but also Mario Hermoso. I remember countless indoor balls from Hermoso. Infinity. Steal, anticipation and a dry and strong pass to Carrasco to attack. That which sometimes does not appear in the repetitions and that is called “intangibles” in football. Mario has added many.
On the other hand, apart from the exit of the ball, we found a player who can play you like this in a line of three and in a line of two. 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3? Handsome. 3-5-2 or 5-3-2? Handsome. Do you urgently need a left-back? Handsome. He is also doing well on his head, scoring goals and physically he is a marvel that has created a fearsome wall alongside giants like Savic, Giménez and Felipe. So … what happened here? We have a center-back with a good ball output, fast, strong, capable of creating a game, dangerous in the air game and with a couple more details, Spanish and league champion with Atlético de Madrid. And it does not go with Spain! What kind of joke is this? What else did Mario Hermoso have to do apart from winning a league as a starter for a team other than Real Madrid and Barcelona? Perhaps they expected Beautiful to fly. The same has been lacking for him to score the 21 goals of Luis Suárez. I do not know, someone explain it to me. Mario, boy, be smart, next year you have to be Pichichi, Zamora, win a Goya and it wouldn’t hurt to release a record with Rosalía either. Let’s see if you think that for winning the closest league in recent years with Atlético as an undisputed starter they were going to give you a little chew. This youth …
Now there is little that can be done. I know that Mario Hermoso is not going to lose a second in regretting it, especially with 25 years, a lot of football ahead and being champion right now. He has just won the League with Atlético, he is very happy about it and will go on vacation to later return rested and ready for Simeone. If it is not the Eurocup, it will be the World Cup and the truth is that I hope I do not need to fly without wings to be there because I will repeat it again, Mario Hermoso won the League and deserved the Eurocup.
– .
