Simeone pays extra attention to Atletico star during defensive work

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been using the time on the training ground this international break to focus in on a particular area with his side. The Argentine coach has been famed for defensive fortitude in his sides, but this season it has been Atletico’s biggest weakness.

The early going for Los Colchoneros has seen Atletico fail to address their defensive issues from late last season. Through the opening stages of the season, Los Rojiblancos have managed just a singular clean sheet for Jan Oblak, who last year one of the Zamora Award for the best goalkeeper in La Liga, after averaging the least amount of goals conceded over a minimum of 26 games.

Simeone focuses in on Atletico Madrid defensive issues

As such, Simeone has been honing his defensive system over the last 10 days, training with Matteo Ruggeri, Clement Lenglet, Jose Maria Gimenez and Marc Pubill in a back four, with Koke Resurreccion and Conor Gallagher alternating as the main midfielder ahead of the defence. Simeone’s ‘obsession’, as Diario AS put it, is to have his side defend further away from goal, higher up the pitch, and be more aggressive in preventing counter-attacks. That includes pointing out on numerous occasions that if necessary, that means committing a foul to prevent a dangerous counter.

🚨 TODAY’S XI IN TRAINING:

Oblak

PUBILL – Gimenez – Lenglet

CARLOS MARTIN – Gallagher – Koke – Almada – Ruggeri

Sørloth – Griezmann@marca pic.twitter.com/mgv56L2Imf

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) October 15, 2025

Conor Gallagher receives special attention

One of the players that came in for the most attention in these sessions was Conor Gallagher, who has only had fleeting opportunities in the middle of midfield. Simeone was keen to correct his positioning, particularly when crosses come in, asking the ex-Chelsea man to pay more attention to his marker than the ball.

Gallagher will have increased shot at central midfield role

Last season Gallagher spent more time on the left of midfield than in the middle, and it was expected that he would find opportunities harder to come by with the arrival of Johnny Cardoso. Yet the USMNT midfielder has struggled with injury early on, and is currently recovering from an ankle issue. He was due to be eased back in after the international break, but after a blow to his ankle on Tuesday, did not train on Wednesday. Cardoso’s recovery is expected to be slowed as a result.