Why Jan Oblak Is Most Disappointing Player for Atletico Madrid so Far in 2014/15

Jan Oblak sat down for an interview with Luis Aznar of Marca last Friday. Two days earlier, the Slovenian had enjoyed his first big night at the Vicente Calderon in a Madrid derby in the Copa del Rey. 

On his 22nd birthday, Oblak kept a clean sheet and made a number of important saves as Atletico won 2-0. It was a job well done, even if it wasn't a job he'd completed countless times before. 

"It was amazing. It was a great experience, incredible," the former Benfica star told Aznar after the clash with Real Madrid. "I'm happy for myself and for the team. I'm amazed. I'd never dreamt of a birthday like it. It was a great gift, the very best I could have hoped for."

As far as 22nd birthdays go, it was a good one. 

"I train every day and wait for my chance. When the gaffer gives me the nod, I have to go for it," Oblak continued, speaking of his situation at the club this season.

"The coach decides who plays. I just wait for his decision. I don't think about taking Moya's place. I just think about doing a good job every day."

Of course, statements from precocious talents on patience, professionalism and hard work behind the scenes are commonplace in football. You don't get anywhere, especially under the management of Diego Simeone, by expressing dissatisfaction and stirring division. 

But this situation is a little different from most. He's not supposed to be a player-in-waiting. Those normally admirable remarks are coming from the most expensive goalkeeper in La Liga history, a €16 million shot-stopper bought to replace Thibaut Courtois. A keeper who was expected to immediately anchor this Atleti outfit until the inevitable happened—until one of Europe's financial heavyweights came knocking, as Manchester United once did for David de Gea.  

Instead, Oblak has made just four starts in his first season in Spain. Three of them have come in the Copa del Rey, two of those against Segunda B outfit L'Hospitalet. Rather than anchoring Simeone's team, the Slovenian has played back-up to Miguel Angel Moya—the €3 million goalkeeper from Getafe, who, as explained by Bleacher Report's Allan Jiang, was brought to the club to be what Daniel Aranzubia had once been to Courtois. 

In short, Oblak was the highly regarded talent expected to shine. Moya was the unspectacular veteran expected to be an insurance policy. 

One has established himself, the other hasn't. 

But, given the contrasting sums spent, the dynamic is the wrong way around. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Indeed, it's been a strange sort of season from the glovemen at Atletico. Just two months after his arrival in the Spanish capital, Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira made the startling claim that Oblak's new employers had offered him back to his former club—something Atleti strongly denied.  

Just prior to that, the young goalkeeper's maiden appearance for Los Colchoneros had been delayed due to a micro hamstring tear, allowing Moya the chance to show his credentials for the No. 1 role. 

Moya, the previously unheralded Spaniard, hasn't looked back since, while Oblak's situation has looked more puzzling by the day.

And when the club's expensive gloveman did get his chance against Olympiakos in the Champions League last September, he was late in moving to Arthur Masuaku's early strike as the hosts grabbed the initiative. On the whole, he looked unsure as Atletico lost 3-2 in uncharacteristic fashion. 

Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press

It's why Oblak's encouraging performance against Real Madrid in last week's first-leg clash in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey was important. Atletico, as a general rule, doesn't throw around the cash like its title rivals in La Liga. When the club does, it expects results. 

Antoine Griezmann has done that. Mario Mandzukic has, too. 

After arriving at Atletico for €16 million, Oblak needs to do the same. 

Follow @TimDCollins