This summer, Atletico Madrid have signed Robin Le Normand to strengthen their defence, a move that is a masterstroke. The French centre-back, who joined from Real Sociedad and recently won the European Championship, is considered one of the best defenders in Europe. However, there is one worrying aspect about his game that is starting to worry Diego Simeone and the entire team: the cards' accumulation.
Le Normand has proven to be a solid player in the centre of defence. With a good ball-breaking ability, forcefulness in contests and ability in the air, he has earned his reputation. Throughout his career, Le Normand has had recurring problems with yellow cards, a factor that could significantly affect Atlético.
Constantly admonished
Last season, Robin Le Normand was one of the players who accumulated the most yellow cards in LaLiga. With 13 cautions, he was only surpassed by Iván Alejo and Rubén Alcaraz, who saw 17 and 14 yellow cards, respectively. This trend is worrying, since accumulated yellow cards can lead to sanctions for accumulation, which could result in the player's absence from important matches.
In European competitions and domestic cups, the situation has not improved much. In the UEFA Champions League, Le Normand accumulated two yellow cards in seven games, and in the Copa del Rey, the story repeated itself. Throughout the season, the centre-back received 17 yellow cards, which underlines the need to adjust and tread carefully.
The latest episode that has heightened concerns occurred last Sunday. In a recent match, Le Normand received a direct red card after pushing Swiss striker Embolo, who was the last defender. This expulsion will prevent him from participating in the next match of the Spanish national team against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League.
Challenge for Simeone
For Diego Simeone, Le Normand's situation represents a significant challenge. The Argentine coach counts on the centre-back as a key piece in his defensive scheme, and the possibility of losing him at important moments of the season due to an accumulation of cards is a concern. Simeone will have to work on adjusting Le Normand's style of play to minimise the number of cards.
The impact of yellow and red cards on Le Normand's performance is a critical issue for Atletico Madrid. The centre-back's ability to stay on the pitch without penalty accumulations will be key to the team's success. Meanwhile, the concern for Jan Oblak and the Atletico coaching staff is growing as any absence from Le Normand could put the team's defensive solidity at risk.