"Better to lose Lee Kang-in for 20 days than risk one match": The reason behind his UCL absence revealed... Simeone's grand plan to beat Munich and Barcelona: "KANG IN gets a mandatory rest"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

With Lee Kang-in (25) sitting out due to pain in his quadriceps (front thigh muscles), Atletico Madrid has moved to implement strict management protocols ahead of upcoming crucial fixtures. Fortunately, he is expected to be available for the match this coming weekend.

Spanish outlet Marca reported on the 22nd (Korean time), "Atletico is giving special protection to Lee Kang-in, who missed the Stuttgart match due to quadriceps pain that has persisted since the away game against Real Sociedad." The report added, "They are carefully managing his condition in preparation for the upcoming match against Deportivo and subsequent fixtures."

The outlet noted, "In the Stuttgart match, the absence of Lee Kang-in from the attack was as painful as the void left by defensive key player Cristian Romero."

Currently, Lee Kang-in is a starter who enjoys the firm trust of manager Diego Simeone. He solidified his position with a fantastic goal in his debut against Malaga and had appeared in all nine La Liga matches and two UEFA Champions League (UCL) matches up until just before the Stuttgart game.

However, the muscle overload that occurred after the Real Sociedad match did not subside. The outlet stated, "Manager Simeone chose a preventive rest without hesitation, even at the cost of forgoing a key attacking card." It continued, "Lee Kang-in participated in light training just before the away trip to Germany but was not fully fit, and ultimately did not even complete the warm-up for the Stuttgart match."

Pedro Pujana, a reporter for Spanish outlet Cadena Ser, also confirmed on the previous day that the absence was strictly preventive, stating, "Lee Kang-in did not push himself due to a quadriceps contusion and mild discomfort."

This is a strategic choice considering future schedules. Atletico will face Bayern Munich and Barcelona back-to-back at their home ground in two weeks, with matches spaced five days apart. These are two fateful games that will serve as a turning point in the race for the top spots in both the UCL and La Liga. Manager Simeone determined that Lee Kang-in must be deployed during this critical period. He proactively blocked the worst-case scenario of being sidelined for approximately 15 to 20 days by forcing an immediate push.

A return within a short period is expected. The outlet reported, "Lee Kang-in's condition will be finally assessed in training on the afternoon of the 22nd," adding, "Optimistic outlooks are emerging that he could appear in the match against Deportivo on the 24th."

According to the outlet, Atletico's medical staff and coaching team plan to strictly control Lee Kang-in's workload with customized training for the time being to prevent pain recurrence and additional absences.

Meanwhile, Atletico, which saw Lee Kang-in stay on the bench, drew 1-1 in their away match against Stuttgart on the previous day. After conceding the opening goal in the 36th minute of the first half, Julian Alvarez scored an equalizer in the second minute of the second half, but a comeback failed after Morten Hjulmand was sent off in the 19th minute of the second half. Atletico currently sits in 16th place among 36 teams in the UCL league phase with one win, one draw, and one loss (four points).

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original