Two UEFA Europa League triumphs in three years have masked the deficiencies of Vicente Calderon based outfit, who failed to secure a top-four finish despite splashing cash in the transfer window.
With Diego Pablo Simeone championing their ship, Atletico Madrid wants to regain their status in La Liga. In recent years, the Europa League has put some shine on the windows, hiding the many problems facing the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Calderon based outfit during the course
of the normal season.
It is because of these problems that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 has surpassed them in La Liga. While Los Colchoneros have found it difficult to secure UEFA Champions League qualification on a regular basis, their Valencian rivals have managed third place finishes for the
last three years.
Finishing in the top-4 is the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adrián-López-c3736 and Arda Turan, among others.
With the foundation already established team, Simeone will look to make the team continue on its growth pattern in the 2012/13 season. Of the 11 starters who won the UEFA Europa League in Bucharest last May, ten remain in the workforce. So, it looks likely
that they have a block that has securities for a podium finish.
The missing piece is http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-c11058 Ribas da Cunha, a key player in the attacking third for Los Rojiblancos in the previous season. He was key in Atletico Madrid’s success, who for many years missed a genuine ‘number 10 '.
At the moment, Atletico need to organize the team from the final third, an area where youth academy graduate, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Koke-c21262 and
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Raul-c30652 Garcia to provide options to the manager.
However, the undisputed star of the squad has to be Falcao. The striker finished amongst the goals last season and has to be the reference for his teammates. Nevertheless, Atletico must find other ways to score if they want to achieve their start of season
goals by the end of 2012/13 campaign.
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