Atletico Madrid's ever-reliable ace Marcos Llorente shines again

The Madrid-born midfielder has once again proven himself one of the most vital cogs in Simeone's machine, with his numbers this season speaking volumes. With 10 La Liga matches still to play and a Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on the horizon, Marcos Llorente has already notched five goals and seven assists, matching his tally from the previous campaign.

It feels a long way off from the heady days of the 2020/21 season when Llorente powered Atletico to the La Liga title with a stunning 13 goals and 12 assists. Back then, he thrived as an attacking midfielder, but since that dream campaign, the versatile 29-year-old has had to adapt to a variety of roles.

This term, he's spent much of his time at right-back, where he's gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Barcelona's Raphinha, and come out on top in both duels.

As mentioned, Llorente has already equalled last season's goal-and-assist haul with plenty of games still to go. Given the starring role he's playing under Simeone in 2024/25, those figures look set to climb even higher.

Despite missing eight matches through injury this season, he ranks as the fourth-most-used outfield player in the squad, trailing only Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez, and Rodrigo De Paul. Llorente has racked up 2,529 minutes across 35 appearances, averaging 72 minutes per game, more than any other Atletico player.

Those eight absences, five in La Liga, two in the Champions League, and one in the Copa del Rey opener against Vic, mean he lags behind eight teammates in total matches played. Yet his minutes on the pitch tell a different story. Simeone has leaned heavily on the No.14, who has featured in every game he's been fit for, barring a Copa del Rey tie against Getafe that Atletico won in a romp.

With club captain Koke sidelined in recent weeks, Llorente has been thrust back into his old stomping ground in central midfield. It's a position he knows well but hasn't occupied regularly in Simeone's setup for some time. During Koke's seven-game absence, Llorente has been on the pitch for 602 of the 660 minutes played, including extra time in a Champions League derby clash, underlining just how indispensable he's become.

"He's a manager's dream," Simeone has said of his trusty utility man in the past. "Wherever you put him, he delivers."

For Atletico fans, Llorente remains a jack-of-all-trades and a master of most. Whether bombing forward from midfield or locking down the right flank, his adaptability and relentless work rate make him a cornerstone of this side. With the season still in full swing, the red-and-white faithful will be hoping their do-it-all dynamo keeps firing on all cylinders.

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