After the draw against Villarreal where Atlético de Madrid started the season , Cholo Simeone 's boys are already preparing for the next matchday of LaLiga . It will be against Girona at the Cívitas Metropolitano , a rival that already put the colchoneros in trouble last season. In fact, they had a great season that allowed them, not only to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history, but they also finished above the rojiblancos.
Now, with a very different squad to last year after very important losses in all ranks, Míchel 's men will seek, like Atlético , the first victory. Something that the Metropolitano will try to avoid at all costs, as they want to make their stadium the same fortress as last season. So things being as they are, Diego Pablo Simeone has already begun to carry out the first tests of the starting eleven with some novelties that, in addition to surprising many people, have caused a lot of commotion.
And it is no wonder, as the Argentine coach has made several changes to the starting eleven that came out against Villarreal . In addition to the entry of José MaríaGiménez for Witsel , RodrigoRiquelme for Reinildo , and Julián Alvarez for Alexander Sorloth , there was a rather controversial movement in the midfield. Something that has not gone unnoticed on social media due to the absence of one of the most important players in the squad, Koke .
Rodrigo de Paul for Koke
Many people were taken by surprise when Belén Sánchez, a journalist from Jugones, reported on Simeone's first rehearsal for the match against Girona FC . Rodrigo de Paul accompanied Pablo Barrios in the centre of the field, leaving Koke on the bench. Something very new and rarely seen in recent years, and the Atlético de Madrid captain has always been vital for the Argentine.
This is why many have wondered the reason for this absence, however, it seems that it is simply a technical decision by Simeone . Beyond the greatest rojiblanco legend, this decision has also raised controversy after the minutes that Rodrigo de Paul had against Villarreal . Many people believed that the attitude with which the Argentine came out onto the field was not correct , reproaching him for the lack of intensity in his first minutes of the season.
Both circumstances have caused several fans to react negatively on social media, not understanding DiegoPablo Simeone 's decision. However, we must not forget that this is the first rehearsal for the second matchday, which will be played next Sunday. Therefore, it would not be surprising if there were several changes in the starting eleven during the training sessions in the following days.
This is not the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last. It is normal for the coach to carry out some tests with players to find out where they are physically. Therefore, if Koke remains physically fit, it is quite likely that he will return to the starting eleven in the next training sessions, because without the captain, Atlético de Madrid is a different team.