Simeone: Atletico must learn to tame Llorente
Reuters - Thursday 03 May 2012, 18:53
Atletico Madrid must tame and
ensnare Athletic Bilbao front-man Fernando Llorente - nicknamed
'The Lion King' - if they are to have any chance of winning the
Europa League final in Bucharest on May 9, coach Diego Simeone
said on Thursday.
Spain striker Llorente, who has been labelled 'El Rey Leon'
because of his thick blond mane, stands at 195cm and has come
through the Basque club's youth ranks as a classic number nine
with an intimidating physical presence.
The 27-year-old caught the eye of many of Europe's top clubs
at the World Cup finals in South Africa two years ago, in
particular with his match-changing contribution off the bench in
Spain's 1-0 second-round win over Portugal.
"Bilbao are a team who like to go forward, who play very
well and they have proved throughout the season they are a very
competitive side," Atletico coach Simeone told reporters.
"Their strength lies in how quickly they look to move the
ball once they have regained possession, and their focal point
is Llorente.
"We will have to be very careful to deny them spaces."
This season Llorente has continued to disrupt defences with
his strength and has scored more headers than anyone else in La
Liga with 10 of his 17 strikes coming from his head rather than
his foot.
He is also Bilbao's leading scorer in Europe, where he has
netted seven goals, including the decisive third that took them
past Portugal's Sporting in dramatic style in their semi-final
second leg last week.
Having Llorente marauding around their area is bad news for
Atletico, who have suffered at set pieces. Both of Valencia's
goals in the Europa League semi-final came from corners.
AERIAL THREAT
It is not all bad news for Atletico as their main goal
threat is also a beast in the penalty area.
Colombia striker Radamel Falcao was named 'El Tigre' (The
Tiger) after a man-of-the-match award handed out in Argentina
when he was in the River Plate youth ranks.
The 26-year-old has quickly adapted to life at the Calderon
after his club record 40 million euros signing
from Porto in the close season, when he was brought in to
replace the departing Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan.
He has not disappointed.
Falcao is Atletico's leading scorer in La Liga with 23
goals, third behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and is
joint-top scorer in the Europa League with Schalke 04's
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on 10.
Like Llorente, Falcao is a serious aerial threat and is La
Liga's second most prolific scorer of headers. He makes up for a
lack of height, 177cm, with a prodigious leap.
Falcao top scored with 17 goals as Porto won the Europa
League last season.