Cristian Romero will have mixed emotions about playing Manchester United this week.
The Argentine put in a captain’s performance in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 Europa League win over United last year. Back in February, his most recent outing against the Manchester giants, he received his marching orders for a foul on Casemiro.
As contentious as the red may have been, the volatile Romero will hope for more of the former when Atletico Madrid host United on Tuesday night. The centre-back departed Spurs for Atletico over the summer, completing a move that was 12 months in the making.
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Romero may have tarnished his legacy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he secured a switch that he was, arguably, born to make. Playing under Diego Simeone feels like a match made in heaven for the former Atalanta man.
And while he took a little while to work his way into Simeone’s starting XI, Atletico look a more solid outfit with the 28-year-old in the side. Indeed, Romero started his fourth league game of the season at the weekend, netting a late winner in a 2-1 victory at Alaves. Simeone’s side have now won all four league matches Romero has started.
Romero slotting in seamlessly at Atletico
The result kept Atletico on the coattails of league leaders Barcelona. They were at risk of drifting seven points off the pace of the defending champions. Romero’s 87th-minute header kept the Madrid giants in the conversation for the La Liga title. It’s the never-say-die attitude that has been honed during his time with the Argentina national team. At the World Cup alone they twice came from behind to secure knockout stage wins over Egypt and England.
It’s in defence where this mental fortitude really comes to the fore. It goes without saying that Romero is an aggressive centre-back. This approach has landed him in hot water with officials in years gone by. At the Wanda Metropolitano, and particularly under Simeone, this approach is celebrated rather than castigated.
Admittedly, Romero’s not needed to display this side to his game as readily with Atletico as he did with Spurs. This is evident in that he has made just six tackles across his five La Liga outings this season. For Spurs in the Premier League last season, he matched, or surpassed, that haul in three separate matches.
Of course, he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time to alleviate pressure on the Atletico goal. 20 clearances is second for the Spanish giants, despite only starting four of eight league games. It’s part of the reason why Atletico are yet to concede from open play across his four starts.
Distribution key against Man Utd
What’s key, though, is that Romero is able to exhibit his distribution. Aside his well-documented aggression issues, Romero is an expert at breaking the lines. And it’s quality to his game that will be vital against a United side that has struggled to deal with balls through the middle.
Spurs carved them open on a number of occasions on Saturday. It was their profligacy that cost them all the spoils at Old Trafford. Atletico won’t be quite so forgiving this week.
Romero ranks fifth for passes (287) for Atletico in Spain’s top tier this term, while a 92.3% pass accuracy is the third best. 19 accurate long balls is third of all outfield players.
United head coach Michael Carrick deploys a high man-to-man press. This involves six players breaking forward, leaving four – the two centre-backs and the two central midfielders – at the back. It means that a single pass from defence can bypass the press and hand United’s opponents’ numerical advantage when they spring forward.
Exploiting Man Utd’s midfield issues
This is where Romero’s distribution will effectively allow Atletico to carve United open. Both Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo struggled to track runners on Saturday evening. They’ll be hoping Carlos Baleba’s return to fitness can go some way to plugging this gap.
Carrick will be backing the Cameroonian to bring the requisite physical dynamism in a key position in order to put a stop to the rapid transitions United have struggled to contain. Whether this starts in midweek does remain to be seen. Baleba has made just one competitive appearance this season and while he impressed off the bench, starting a half-fit 22-year-old at the Wanda could prove disastrous.
So, too, will be United’s continued midfield setup. Spurs gave the blueprint on how to beat the United press. And Romero, with his notable ball-playing capability, should have no issue getting the ball forward to punish the Premier League side.
Romero has been able to exhibit this side to his game with greater frequency than he did in his final season at Spurs. Provided he can avoid the off-ball theatrics that have plagued the defender in the past, then Atletico should get their Champions League campaign up an running on Tuesday.