The 2-0 against Real Madrid last December 12 was the first defeat of the Athletic of Madrid in this League, but also a turning point for Héctor Herrera, Which went from the deserved and praised ownership, for the performance it gave the team, to one muscle injury, at the covid-19 and a course of 22 games in a row without starting from the eleven that ended this Sunday.
He was chosen by the coach Diego Simeone for the midfield in the visit to Benito Villamarín, in this case in the band of Boil Resurrection, by the low by cycle of five yellows of Marc Llorente (It was not available either Geoffrey condogbia); a new occasion for him that lasted 64 minutes.
He was replaced by Víctor Machín, ‘Vitolo’, after a discreet match, With ups and downs, in this competition that holds against the circumstances in recent times, after having gained confidence which he did not have of Simeone at the beginning of the last campaign and be crucial in the beginning of Laliga that Atlético traced … until that derby.
Its time before that meeting was of habitual holder, Up to almost fixed; even fresh out of another muscle ailment that had sidelined him from the previous three crashes. He had earned it with his football, With its direction like half center within the 5-3-2 by which already it had changed Simeone. In his band, Koke and Marcos Llorente. Confidence was visible in him from the coach.
Atletico then lost him to injury. She heard it. First he was sidelined over eight games, due to muscle damage. Then a shock was substituted, it reappeared six minutes against Cadiz, from the bench, to increase the shooting … And covid-19 arose. He gave a positive result before facing Celta, the same Monday, February 9, to start another period of absence. Of five parties.
“Certainly, Herrera had started the season very well. He had this injury that has not allowed him to maintain continuity above all, which is what footballers want. And then the guys who are growing up have competed very well in that position, like Lemar, Koke, Llorente, Kondogbia… And the pressure to play is starting to build. It is important because we need it. And in Herrera we need it. Now he was very well in his return from injury and it appears what touched him and it is up to us to live many, which is that of the coronavirus “, reviewed Diego Simeone last February 12, when he suffered from covid-19.
“He’s a working guy“He wants to be well and with an influence within the important group”, he remarked about Herrera, who then he was a substitute for two games and suffered a family drama with the death of his mother, before returning to competition with the 16 minutes he played against Alabès and Sevilla to return to the title against Betis, 22 games later.
THE NUMBERS OF HÉCTOR HERRERA IN THE ATHLETIC:
- – Matches played: 45.
- – Starting matches: 25.
- – Complete matches: 10.
- – Matches without minutes on the bench: 20.
- – Uncalled matches: 1.
- – Matches due to injury: 22.
- – Longest series of matches played: 17.
- – Longest series of starting matches: 6.
- – Minutes: 2,482.
- – Goals: 1 (2-2 against Juventus in the Metropolitan).
- – Assistance: 2.