You may have seen shots. Conor Gallagher, turned on as a replacement, to tear into one tool during the stop time and then sets out for a second. Diego Simeone yelled his consent from the excavation. Estadio Metropolitano explodes, answer.
These last moments in victory 1-0 over Athletic Bilbao are likely to define Gallagher’s first season with Athletico Madrid as well as his record 27 seconds to the derby against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
It resonated. After his summer arrival from Chelsea he was compared to Pit Bull when he was introduced to the domestic crowd. Gallagher, which was considered a natural condition for the Simeon Party, was considered to be the embodiment of the main principles of the club coach.
Conor Gallagher’s intensity on the pitch was suitable for Diego Simeone
But five games from this season and athletico are in balance. They haven’t won since then. From the Champions League, after a criminal shootout, the defeat of their big rivals left them a lot of drawing in what was a promising challenge of the title.
The second stage of their Copa del Rey against Barcelona – nicely prepared after an epic draw of 4-4 in Catalonia – is now an opportunity. It needs to be entertained if Simeone is supposed to deliver a trophy this season and Gallagher has something to show for his efforts.
The midfielder was still doing well, although the results went against Athletico. This goal against Real Madrid was remarkable not only for its speed. He was the first Englishman in Madrid Derby. Since then he has provided assistance against Barcelona.
Gallagher ranks among the 50 best players in Lalize for holding, which he won both in the defensive third and in the middle third of the field. And yet, only striker Alexander Sorloth between Athletico Squad has a shot when one another with a goalkeeper more often than him.
This emphasizes its ability to influence the game on both boxes – the trademark property – but it was not just a qualified success. The partnership between Pablo Barrios and Rodrig de Paul has regularly seen him forced to play the left wing, playing out of place.
Conor Gallagher minutes by position in the Champions League for Athletico Madrid
Few people understand playing requirements for Athletico better than Diego Godin. He asked Sky Sports To share his judgment of the debut campaign in England International, the club legend says, “I think Conor Gallagher is going through an adaptation period.”
Godin explains: “We know that he has come to a new country, a new language, and also has to adapt to the style of the game that Simeone is looking for. I would generally say that all great players required adaptation in the Athletico period.”
Diego Costa exploded in her third season. More recently, De Paul passed out that he was crazy to become a favorite fan. “They always become really important players. I’m sure Gallagher will be important to athletica,” Godin adds.
“Every game doesn’t start, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. Simeone’s philosophy has always been that what matters is that players accumulate a huge number of minutes, but to ensure that the minutes they play are of maximum quality.”
Diego Godin is the legend of Athletico Madrid that was a rock under Diego Simeone
This is especially the case of Gallagher, a player whose presence on the pitch makes sense only if he works with full intensity. There is a tidy ball distributor on the ball. Whether he plunges into a box or presses his opponent, he can be elite.
Simeone acknowledged this, impressed with the opening training session. Gallagher wasn’t even born when his coach won twice as a midfielder athletico, but also sensed a soul mate, someone who could increase his game to feel.
Kieran Trippier, the winner of the title under Simeone in Athletico, assured him that it was a perfect fit and that the language barrier may not be in terms of establishing this connection. Godin also provides insight narration. Simeone is more.
Conor Gallagher celebrates after scoring the introductory goal against Real Madrid
“Cholo Simeone is a very intense coach, but also decompress. He is not always so serious, intense. You see that he is very passionate every time his team is on the pitch, watching him from side places, but there are times when he toning down.
“He’s jovial. He likes to say jokes and likes to relax. At my time we also met away from the matches, far from the stadium. He invited us around our house for food. We met with walks out, walked with the dog and took our children to school.
“It’s like any work, no matter where you work, sometimes things can be too tense. If there is too much pressure, things will break, so you have to take a step back, take off pressure. You have to enjoy these moments when you can relax.”
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Diego Simeone about a controversial step to exclude the punishment of Julian Alvarez against Real Madrid
Maybe it’s one of the secrets of the longevity of Simeone. Next year will be at work to mark ten years and a half. And despite the suspicion that it is tireless, athletico has evolved. “Today’s Athletico is not the same as the Athletico team ten years ago,” Godin says.
“The team today plays in a different way than when I played in the team. Players are different today. All these different players have different features. But cholo has this ability to stay at work for many years and just continue to discover.
“But he knew cholo, he always demands that players give as much as possible, and are 100 % turned on. He will never discuss it. He will always try to ensure that his teams are always well interconnected.
“The results speak for themselves, look at what it has achieved, and I think it does it very, very well. He understands the club perfectly. He understands what Athletico is all about and what Athletico needs at all times. I think this is the key.”
When Simeone turns to the crowd, screaming to raise noise after the last tools of Gallagher, perhaps he understands that his team athletico also needs his English midfielder. Win against Barcelona and the final of Copa del Rey is waiting for them.
