Scouting Atletico Madrid's Rising Star Lucas Hernandez
Manager Diego Simeone knew Lucas Hernandez would be a useful player for Atletico Madrid, even back in 2013. That was the first time he called him up to the senior squad for a clash with Villarreal in November.
It was before Hernandez had even played a single game for the Atletico B team.
Although the centre-back did not feature in that game for the main squad, he only had to wait a few more months for his B debut, with it eventually coming in April 2014.
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Hernandez played three more times for Atletico B after that, before penning a new deal in the summer. That was later extended to June 2019 after he was promoted to the first-team squad in August 2015.
It was back towards the end of 2014 when he finally got to taste action under Simeone for the first time, playing in a 3-0 Copa del Rey win over CE L’Hospitalet, at 18 years old.
The game at La Feixa Llarga was a standard away victory, not notable for much other than Lucas’ debut, playing alongside Jose Maria Gimenez, one of the best young centre-backs in Europe.
The Uruguayan is a footballing reference point for Hernandez, and the latter said as much in a press conference after his contract was renewed.
Per Goal (in Spanish), Hernandez stated: "For me, Gimenez is a reference point because he arrived here at 18, the truth is he had a year hardly playing, and now he's been progressing in each training session and is a starter for Atletico Madrid, alongside Godin, who's one of the best in the world."
Lucas may be recognisable for some as he’s the son of Jean-Francois Hernandez, following in his father's footsteps as a central defender.
Jean-Francois played for Toulouse, Sochaux and Marseille in France, before moving to Spain and featuring for Compostela, Rayo Vallecano and Atletico Madrid.
"I always played football at home with my father and brother," Lucas told Atletico Madrid's official website (link in Spanish).
The 20-year-old is French, despite his Spanish-sounding name, and arrived at Atletico as a 12-year-old in 2007.
Physically strong, Hernandez has dominated at youth level, leading to him being called the "Jefazo," or big boss.
That's reported by Chema G Fuente in Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, who also says he's "strong, tall, fast, diligent, with character and left-footed, a quality which is in demand for players in his position."
All those descriptors are accurate, though "versatile" should be added to the list. Although he's a centre-back, he can also be used at left-back, and it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine him doing a job in defensive midfield if necessary.
The power and aggression Lucas has is reminiscent of the man he looks up to, Gimenez, who is a good example for him to follow if he wants to make good on his undoubted potential.
One of Lucas' biggest strengths is bringing the ball out from the back, something valued in Spain, and he is usually both careful and wise in his distribution of it.
Because of his aerial ability, he's also a threat from set pieces, and Simeone can rely on him to clear his lines at the back if Atletico are being aerially bombarded.
Bleacher Report spoke to ESPN's Atletico Madrid writer Joseph Walker, a regular at the Vicente Calderon, who has kept a close eye on the defender's progress.
He said: "Lucas is a strong, steady defender who has shown great versatility in his short Atletico career to date, looking at home both at left-back and in his natural position of centre-back.
"His standout performance to date for Los Rojiblancos came against the eternal rival, Real Madrid, in a 2-0 Copa del Rey victory last season in which he kept the world's most expensive player, Gareth Bale, as quiet as a mouse.
"In terms of strengths, he is cool on the ball, strong and rarely shirks a tackle. That youthful exuberance can also be his downfall as it can result in him diving into tackles, but he has time on his side and there are few better defenders to learn from than Diego Godin.
"The fact Diego Simeone refused to allow the Frenchman to leave on loan this campaign is testament to how highly he rates him and under the Argentine's stewardship there's no reason he cannot make it at the Calderon."
As Walker notes, diving into tackles could be a problem, especially for a team as relentlessly physical as Atletico. It’s definitely an area he should work on.
Hernandez also impressed at left-back against Eibar recently, as Atletico’s defence was ravaged by injury and suspension.
The youngster is taking things calmly, and given his numerous assets, it would be no surprise to see Simeone continue to turn to him in the months ahead.
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