Atletico Madrid's summer has been, as expected, eventful. The loss of their shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois coupled with the more recent loss of Filipe Luis has left the platform for their success – their defence – somewhat unrecognizable.
With players such as Adrian Lopez also departing the club, Atletico’s bench and back-up players have changed as well. But the real question marks hang over the departure and subsequent replacement of Diego Costa and David Villa. While you it could be argued that you don't simply replace a player like Costa, who scored 27 goals in a single League campaign last year, you can look at it from Diego Simeone's standpoint. New season, new players and, quite possibly, new system.
Every success and plaudit that came the Madrid-based team’s way last season was borne from the low block, defensive system that Simeone applied to his squad. Costa reaped the rewards it was clear to see where Atletico’s strengths lay, and their stingy defence was what the team was based upon. This must change as they are now the big guns and must adapt their style accordingly
It was noted last year that later in the season when Atletico entered games as favourites with teams sitting back against them, they struggled to an extent to break them down. They will be favourites for every La Liga game next season with the exception of trips to Camp Nou and across town to Santiago Bernabeu.
Simeone has purchased a player of some pedigree with the capture of Croatian Mario Mandzukic. Coming from a more tactically expansive, high-pressing team such as Bayern Munich, it will be interesting to see just how he settles into his new home. Mandzukic and Costa share similar characteristics in terms of their position, but both players are quite different when you look at their mental properties and defensive mind-sets.
Costa rarely, or practically never, added to the defensive aspect of Atletico Madrid's game, but with Mandzukic, you have a player who is used to pressing, following defenders, and putting in the odd tackle up the field. He is also far better at holding onto the ball with a view of dispersing it out wide or centrally to players running off him. In this respect, Costa, was more of a hit-man. He was put up front to score goals and if that meant 10 shots off target and one that went in, it was a job well done.
Mandzukic is far more technical than the outgoing Spain international, and more efficient with his movement and distribution. While Simeone will hardly adapt a free flowing, attacking game like Bayern’s, he may ask his players to come out of their shell more often and play a more progressive style.
Another question mark is that of fatigue for Mandzukic. Simeone is notorious for not rotating his squad. Costa played over 900 more minutes than the former Bayern player last year, and note that Costa would have played more had he not suffered a hamstring tear at the end of the season. Can the Croatian's body live up to the demands placed on it by Cholo?
Simeone's playing career was carved from defensive stability and stopping his opponents, and that is exactly what his management style involves, but you expect Atletico to be a more attack-minded, progressive team next season based on their summer signings.
