Atletico Madrid Player-by-Player Guide to Their 2015-16 Liga Squad
Atletico Madrid kick off their season on Saturday against newly promoted Las Palmas, with Diego Simeone's squad boosted by several new signings and looking good to mount a challenge for the title once more.
Before things get underway for Los Colchoneros, we have taken a look at the entire squad and present them to you here—new faces, old ones and those returning from loans—to see just what the makeup of the side is like and to assess where the biggest strengths are.
This is Atleti's full 2015-16 season squad at present, along with a prediction for how each member might fare this term.
Jan Oblak
1 of 20
Position: Goalkeeper
Last season: Jan Oblak signed from Benfica a year ago but missed the start of the season through injury. As a result, he played the cups—including in Europe—and only came into the league team toward the end of 14-15. He made 11 Liga appearances in total.
Biggest strengths: Everything. He's commanding, dominant in the air, agile, has a big reach and shows great reflexes. He has everything to become a leading keeper on the continent.
Things to work on in 15-16: He needs to make sure he shows enough to nail down the No. 1 spot in La Liga early on and prove he's so good that he must play both competitions—Liga and Champions League— rather than rotating.
Prediction: He'll become the undisputed first choice goalkeeper and win the Zamora award, given to the goalkeeper with the best goals-against average in the league.
Miguel Angel Moya
2 of 20
Position: Goalkeeper
Last season: Miguel Angel Moya came into the team as a result of Oblak's injury from the start of the year and impressed hugely, totally deserving to keep his place thereafter. He played 27 Liga games before succumbing to injury himself.
Biggest strengths: Moya is fearless in direct confrontations with forwards and a very agile goalkeeper. His confidence was sky-high last year and it showed in his performances.
Things to work on in 15-16: His distribution isn't always great, but it's the competition for places he'll have to work for hardest. He could struggle for meaningful game time.
Prediction: He'll be the Copa del Rey 'keeper but little more this year, barring injury to Oblak.
Juanfran
3 of 20
Position: Right-back
Last season: Mr. Reliable as always. Juanfran played 35 out of the 38 Liga games and showed his usual defensive fortitude, support play in attack and leadership on the field.
Biggest strengths: Simeone trusts him implicitly to do the job he has done all along: be solid, unwavering in his defensive work and provide a reasonable outlet going forward. He's not in the Spain squad for any other reason than merit—Juanfran is so consistent.
Things to work on in 15-16: If you really want to criticise something, then you'd ask for a little more contribution in the final third, but really, Simeone will be delighted with another season of exemplary displays in every other aspect. Besides, Juanfran's delivery is straightforward but effective—short infield crosses and cut-backs to the midfielders.
Prediction: Expect another season of Juanfran starting nearly every game.
Diego Godin
4 of 20
Position: Centre-back
Last season: The rock of Atleti's defence, Diego Godin transitioned to a new defensive partner and, aside from one shaky spell mid-season, generally looked as strong as ever. He started 34 matches in La Liga and scored three times.
Biggest strengths: Aerial dominance, physical power, barking orders at his team-mates and the tackles. All the tackles.
Things to work on in 15-16: Keep fit, and maybe try to reduce that yellow card count—11 in 34 is pretty hefty going, and suspensions can be costly. Godin is pretty much the perfect centre-back for Atleti and Simeone, though.
Prediction: Godin will have another monstrous campaign. He has recently turned down a move to Manchester City, according to Marca (h/t James Whaling of the Mirror), so is clearly focused on the club, the project and their chances of success. If he performs well, Atleti are already in place to have a good season.
Jose Gimenez
5 of 20
Position: Centre-back
Last season: Jose Gimenez made his real breakthrough, ousting Miranda from the team and eventually solidifying himself as first choice next to Godin. He played 20 league games in total, scoring once.
Biggest strengths: Very much like Godin, Gimenez is brave, committed and fearless with all the usual defensive traits: aerially, making blocks and putting in challenges. He also reads the game well, covers behind his fellow centre-back and is decent on the ball.
Things to work on in 15-16: Consistency is key. This will be Gimenez's first full campaign and expectation will be huge on him. He needs to keep doing the basics well and then add to his game as he goes: keep learning the game, getting used to where he needs to position himself for different phases of defending and become more difficult to beat in the air.
Prediction: He's an extremely capable defender, but being first-choice centre-back at 20 is unusual. At some point he'll have a dip—how he bounces back will define his season. He should be more than fine, though.
Stefan Savic
6 of 20
Position: Centre-back
Last season: Stefan Savic played at Fiorentina in Serie A last season. He signed for Atletico this summer for big money in a deal that saw Mario Suarez go the other way. Savic scored two goals in 29 league appearances for La Viola.
Biggest strengths: Savic is quite a departure from the norm for Atleti. He's a slender-built figure, easily barged out of aerial duels and not your Godin-esque challenger either. His strengths are instead in agility, composure on the ball, good acceleration over short distance and in defending against quick-footed forwards who change direction easily.
Things to work on in 15-16: Presumably Simeone will want him to become far more dominant aerially, so maybe some upper-body work will be called for. He'll have his hands full trying to win a place in the team, so an initial spell on the sidelines will be the time he gets to work on this.
Prediction: He'll get chances throughout the season, but expect no more than 15 or so league starts unless injuries hit either of the Uruguayans.
Filipe Luis
7 of 20
Position: Left-back
Last season: Filipe Luis moved to Chelsea last summer from Atletico and is now back "home" after just a year at Stamford Bridge, with Atleti paying less this year than they sold him for. He played 15 times in the Premier League for the Blues.
Biggest strengths: When going forward, Luis uses space well, picks passes and has a great delivery from wide on the run. Defensively he's diligent about stopping crosses coming in and is assured positionally.
Things to work on in 15-16: Fitness and determination to get back to the level he showed before his Chelsea move. The Brazilian seemed to lack confidence at times at the Bridge, perhaps just because he wasn't first choice. If he gets back to his old levels, he's one of Europe's top left-backs.
Prediction: He'll be first choice, no doubt, but at 30, he's looking at his last seasons at the top level now. It's not certain he'll be quite as effective as he was in his previous spell with Atleti, but he's still an upgrade on Guilherme Siqueira/Cristian Ansaldi/Jesus Gamez from last season in this position.
Gabi
8 of 20
Position: Central midfield
Last season: During the 2014-15 campaign, Gabi didn't hit the heights of the season previous, and his lack of consistency eventually saw him lose his previously untouchable place in the first XI. He still played 34 times in the league, but it's notable that he was subbed off in 13 of those games.
Biggest strengths: Ferocious tackling, non-stop stamina, a good range of passing from deep and the organisation of those around him.
Things to work on in 15-16: Gabi needs to work on his consistency. If he was playing at his title-winning-season level, he's an absolute guaranteed starter. Unfortunately, he only showed that sort of form in fleeting appearances last term, and it detracts a lot from Atleti's game as he plays centrally. Passing, decision-making and power all need to be upped from last term.
Prediction: He'll start the season in the team, but Gabi needs to be quickly back on his game to stay there. Either way, we're still looking at him featuring 30 times this term, but whether that's as a starter, a sub to shore things up or only playing 60 minutes at a time depends on his improvement.
Tiago
9 of 20
Position: Central midfield
Last season: Tiago was truly excellent and a big part of Atleti's fantastic late-season run toward another title challenge—until the final four games. Rather than a holding player, he was instead the creative force in the final third, finding gaps in opposition defences and contributing five goals in his 31 appearances.
Biggest strengths: Passing range, vision and execution are his biggest strengths. He's important in sustained spells of attack against deep defences and, even at 34, still has great stamina reserves. He's two-footed, isn't afraid to make big challenges and is, of course, very astute tactically.
Things to work on in 15-16: Expect more of the same this season. He'll be looking to establish himself as a first choice again, though age and options means Simeone could swap him around a little more, keeping him for big games. At 34, he's not going to be adding anything new to his performances.
Prediction: Tiago should start the season well and can be relied upon to finish the campaign in the team on a regular basis, too—especially when trophies are at stake. In between, the middle third of the season wouldn't be a surprise to see Tiago rested more frequently.
Koke
10 of 20
Position: Central and left midfield
Last season: Koke is one of Atletico's most important players. Thirty-four games, two goals and double figures in assists; Koke's industry and defensive capacities are impressive but pale into comparison with his ability to affect the construction of Atleti's attacking play. His few absences told a big story—the team struggled without him.
Biggest strengths: Passing, retention of the ball, first touch, set piece delivery, dribbling into space, tackling, tracking runners from deep...you name it, Koke can do it.
Things to work on in 15-16: Hopefully Koke will be playing centrally, as often as possible. He might open the season still on the left but, sooner or later, he will feature from kick-off right in the middle of Atleti's midfield. He can create so much more for them from there—and adding a few more goals would be nice too.
Prediction: He'll be one of the stars of this season's Liga. Playing centrally will see him take his game up another level, and Koke is genuinely capable of pushing the team toward another title.
Saul Niguez
11 of 20
Position: Centre-back, central midfield, right midfield, support forward
Last season: Saul Niguez made his first strides last term in establishing himself as part of the squad, following a successful loan to Rayo Vallecano. He played 24 times in La Liga in total, mostly off the bench and in a variety of positions. His best moment came when scoring in the 4-0 win over Real Madrid, having started that match.
Biggest strengths: He's an all-rounder, so he can do all the things you'd expect off a midfielder who Simeone likes: plenty of running, a good first touch, neat passes and good physical strength to beat opponents one-on-one, either offensively or defensively.
Things to work on in 15-16: Saul needs more work on using space, both on and off the ball. Nailing down one role in the team is ideal for the future, but at just 20 years of age, his versatility is a strength at this point, giving him more likelihood of game time. Just keep progressing and impressing.
Prediction: Saul will vie largely for the right-sided role in the midfield quartet. He won't be a first choice but one of the first few substitute options, and he should be looking to better his tally of 1,063 league minutes from last season by a considerable margin.
Raul Garcia
12 of 20
Position: Right midfield, support forward, central midfield
Last season: The Mr. Fix-it for Simeone off the bench, Raul Garcia played 32 Liga games but 14 as sub, frequently brought on when Simeone was chasing a result or trying to hold onto one. He scored five and assisted a few, too.
Biggest strengths: Performing well as soon as he enters the pitch is a huge part of Garcia's game, whether that's helping to go on the offensive or tighten things up in the middle. He's not an automatic starter, but he's a real go-to man for the boss. Garcia's aggressive, good in the air and also has a knack for scoring important goals.
Things to work on in 15-16: Athletic Bilbao have reportedly offered him a chance to move and play regular football, according to AS (h/t Inside Spanish Football's Tom Conn), but Garcia still has a lot to give this side. The thing is, it might mainly be off the bench. Does he want that? He should give this Atleti project another season, but he is what he is, and that's not a 35-match starter for the team.
Prediction: Garcia will stay at Atleti this term and play his usual 30 games or so—half starts, half sub— adding a few important goals and helping the team enormously along the way. This, though, will probably be his final season with the club given those coming through.
Oliver Torres
13 of 20
Position: Wide midfield, attacking midfield
Last season: Last season, Oliver Torres was on loan at FC Porto in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. He scored seven in 26 for them in league play and impressed in the Champions League, too.
Biggest strengths: Creativity, mobility on the ball and picking passes as he moves into the final third. Oliver is an exciting talent who will be an excellent addition to this year's squad, being able to open up defensive sides from the start or make an impact off the bench in bigger games.
Things to work on in 15-16: Oliver needs to show more consistency in his performances, tactical awareness as to his role in a (defensively) more demanding side and, in general, do the things a young player should do: learn from the talent around him, take on board his coach's instructions and work hard defensively to impress.
Prediction: Oliver will play a big part in the campaign overall, but you'd expect him to be in and out of the side at different stages. Like Gimenez, he may face a period where things don't come off for him, and he'll need to be resilient and show a good mentality thereafter.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco
14 of 20
Position: Left midfield, right midfield
Last season: Yannick Ferreira Carrasco played for AS Monaco in Ligue 1 during the 2014-15 season and was signed by Atleti in the summer. He scored six in 36 games in the league and helped his side to the Champions League qualifiers with a top-three finish.
Biggest strengths: Pace, dribbling and direct running are the primary tools in Carrasco's locker. He's a good outlet for the team on the counter-attack and looks to have settled into the Atleti way quickly during pre-season. Available to play on either flank, he should stretch opposition teams and link the midfield to attack—whether he starts or enters as sub.
Things to work on in 15-16: Like most wide attackers, a consistent final ball is the biggest part of his game to work on. Carrasco plays at a high tempo and runs at speed, so the composure and decision-making at the critical point of pass/cross/shoot is something he can keep improving. He'll certainly have the movement ahead of him to make a big impact.
Prediction: He will be one of the regular midfield performers, probably from the left once Koke moves infield. He should contribute a fair few goals, too.
Angel Correa
15 of 20
Position: Forward, support forward, wide midfield
Last season: Although Atleti signed Angel Correa last summer, he needed heart surgery before the transfer was completed in the winter. Recovery time from the operation meant Correa naturally didn't play any competitive action last term. Before that, he was at San Lorenzo in Argentina.
Biggest strengths: Correa offers dribbling ability in one-on-one situations, ability to make use of space heading into the penalty area and composure when looking to get shots away. He has played a big part in pre-season for the club.
Things to work on in 15-16: Strength, endurance and acceleration—La Liga is a tough competition and Correa hasn't experienced it yet. He'll have to bide his team for chances in the team, but those will come if he shows he can create or score goals with regularity.
Prediction: It will be a season where he begins to break through, but not necessarily a breakout campaign for the 20-year-old. Copa games and a handful of appearances elsewhere is the most likely bet, given the competition for places; this will definitely be a building season, but he has the talent to make that merely a foundation for great things to come.
Luciano Vietto
16 of 20
Position: Striker, support forward, wide attacker
Last season: Luciano Vietto excelled at Villarreal in the first half of the season. The latter stages of the campaign was more disappointing, as injuries, rotation and a focus on the cups meant disjointed team displays and a failure in results. He started 17 of his 32 games and scored 12 goals in La Liga.
Biggest strengths: Vietto boasts an excellent first touch and general technique, while his use of space, tendency to attack the box from deep and solid first-time finishing are also valuable traits. He is adept at linking play outside the box then joining up again later in the move, often to run onto a cut-back and produce a final pass or shot.
Things to work on in 15-16: He needs to be more aggressive in the penalty area, more clinical with his finishing and show all the great link-up play that can help Atleti become a more rounded team overall.
Prediction: Vietto will face a big battle for starting many games due to the competition in attacking areas, but he should look for similar stats to last year: 30 games total with half of those being starts. Doing that at a better club with greater expectations and better team-mates represents a step up for him. Regular games and goals will come in time with his quality.
Antoine Griezmann
17 of 20
Position: Striker, support forward, wide forward, left midfield
Last season: Antoine Griezmann transferred from Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid and from left winger to complete forward during the 2014-15 campaign—and he did it superbly well. A few months of hit-and-miss performances came to an end with a hat-trick at San Mames in the winter, and Griezmann never looked back. He finished with 22 goals from 37 games and was a standout performer for the team.
Biggest strengths: Griezmann is adept at turning in small spaces, while he also has good pace, dribbling and finishing abilities. He's lightning quick onto through passes, can shoot from all ranges and has proved clinical and quick to react inside the box.
Things to work on in 15-16: He needs to ensure his success as a forward isn't limited to one season. Griezmann has all the tools to be a fantastic striker over the longer term and now has new, better partners to work with. Another 20-goal haul is a must along with showing all the rest of his abilities.
Prediction: That's exactly what he'll do. He has a chance of being among the top-four scorers in La Liga for a second successive term and could be the one who fires Atleti to glory.
Jackson Martinez
18 of 20
Position: Striker
Last season: Jackson Martinez was the top scorer in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with FC Porto during the 2014-15 campaign, hitting 21 goals in 30 league games. Signed for Atletico this summer for in excess of €30m, he now has the chance to show he can still show that kind of scoring form in a much bigger, more competitive league.
Biggest strengths: Martinez brings power, clinical finishing around the box, hold-up play to let others join the attack and consistency to Atleti.
Things to work on in 15-16: Taking all those traits he showed over three seasons in Portugal and translating them to La Liga will be a challenge for Martinez. He'll have better team-mates as well as stronger opponents, but it's a new environment. For his price tag, he'll be expected to hit the ground running.
Prediction: Expect him to hit somewhere around the 15-goal mark. He'll start the season as first choice no doubt, but he could well hit spells where it's clear he's still integrating himself into the new team and style. Porto dominated always, Atleti counter far more, so the quality of chances falling his way will not always be as clear-cut.
Fernando Torres
19 of 20
Position: Striker
Last season: Fernando Torres moved from Chelsea to AC Milan at the beginning of the campaign on loan. He scored once in 10 Serie A games by the winter transfer window and then made the move to Italy permanent—before immediately being loaned straight to Atletico, his old club, as Alessio Cerci went the other way. He scored three in 19 Liga games and contributed in the cups too, including goals against Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Biggest strengths: Holding off defenders, working the channels, offering an aerial threat and the positivity he generates around the stadium every time he pulls on the Atletico shirt make Torres a valuable squad player.
Things to work on in 15-16: Torres should work on rediscovering that finishing touch inside the box that made him such a monster around 2007-09. That level has probably gone forever, just like his acceleration, but he has looked sharp in pre-season and should impact for Atleti in selected games.
Prediction: He's fourth-choice out of the four senior forwards, but that doesn't mean he won't play. Torres is an icon as much as a striker for Simeone to utilise at the right time and, if his displays of late are anything to go by, don't be too surprised to see Torres shine at key times and work his way toward double figures in goals this term.
Other Squad Options
20 of 20
Jesus Gamez: Gamez will be the back-up full-back to come in on either side, more than likely, if Juanfran or Luis suffer any injuries. He played a fairly prominent role at the end of last season, making 14 league appearances in the end, but Simeone doesn't switch the back four often unless he has to. Another steady season of filling in when required beckons.
Lucas Hernandez: Hernandez made a good impression during pre-season, playing at centre-back rather than left-back. He could feasibly fill in for both roles, but at just 19 years of age, he will have to wait for his chance to shine. He'll probably make a handful of appearances all season, mostly in the cup.
Guilherme Siqueira: Siqueira was last season's first-choice left-back at Atleti, but he didn't have a completely clear run due to injury, loss of form and suspension. He was linked with Juventus by Marca, but after they agreed to sign Alex Sandro, his future is unclear. If he stays, he'll be a stellar back-up, though he is now thought to be Porto's target to replace Sandro (per Record, via Inside Spanish Football).
Thomas Partey: On loan last term at Almeria, Partey grew in stature as the season went on. A young central midfielder, he'll be fourth choice to start with, but he has a box-to-box ability that the other Atleti options cannot match. That might see him play selected fixtures, but the Copa is his best bet to feature.
Nacho Monsalve: A B-team centre-back who has featured in pre-season, Monsalve stands only a slight chance of being involved if injuries sideline the first three options, with Hernandez still ahead of him too.
Out on loan:
Emiliano Velazquez, centre-back: At Getafe for a second successive season.
Javi Manquillo, right-back: Was at Liverpool on loan last term and Marseille in Ligue 1 this year.
Josuha Guilavogui, central midfield: At Wolfsburg again this year, the second season of a two-year loan.
Bernard Mensah, attacking midfield: Signed from Vitoria Guimaraes and loaned to Getafe immediately.
Alessio Cerci, wide midfield: Flopped last season after signing from Torino and still at AC Milan now as exchange for Fernando Torres' loan.
Leo Baptistao, support forward: Hasn't made the grade at Atleti and is now on loan at Villarreal.
Borja Baston, striker: Seems unlikely to break through at the club. At Eibar this season.
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