Atletico-Barcelona: Julian Alvarez rejected, Simeone protects him

Julian Alvarez abruptly returned to square one, missing the chance to redeem himself against Barcelona and pushing reconciliation with the colchonera supporters further away. The Argentine striker in the direct clash of La Liga squandered two spectacular goal chances, highlighting a clear regression and a worrying lack of confidence, once again provoking the fury and whistles of the Metropolitano.

Despite the negative performance and the growing protest from the stands, Diego Pablo Simeone decided to shield him on the pitch to protect him and spare him an even harsher criticism at the moment of substitution. “We love him very much, we need him. We need the best Julian and we will work with him,” he reiterated at the press conference.

Consequences on the result

The Argentine coach’s move ended up unbalancing Atletico, which after an excellent first half fell apart in the second, also aided by the astute changes made by Flick, losing 2-1. Without Barrios, Koke, Baena and Kang‑in Lee, the colchoneros lost their best feet, handing the match to the visitors and sparking general outrage over the team’s management.

The blind protection of the Cholo towards his Argentine striker surfaced in the footage captured by “El Día Después” of “Movistar Plus+”, where the assistant Gabi is seen asking, surprised, “Julian stays?”, receiving the curt reply from the manager: “Julian does not go out”. An episode that, according to Spanish media reconstructions, would photograph Simeone’s firm determination to publicly defend the player.