Alberto Pérez thinks Hjulmand is playing 'too close to the edge'

Alberto Pérez says he had already warned that Hjulmand needed to rein himself in, and recalls the risky moments that came before his sending-off in Stuttgart. He likes the midfielder's character but wants him to learn to cool down.

Morten Hjulmand ended up being sent off at the MHP Arena after an uncalled-for sliding challenge. Atlético de Madrid were reduced to ten men and could only just scrape a draw against Stuttgart on matchday three of the Champions League. On the panel, the question is whether Hjulmand takes too many risks...

Alberto Pérez explains that the previous Saturday, during the game against Espanyol, he had already told his cousin that the midfielder needed to start reining himself in: an early yellow card for putting his arm around an opponent's neck at a corner left him a marked man for the whole match.

He goes over other episodes: Hjulmand lost his place at the start of the season for failing to keep himself in check, against Villarreal he charged around like a madman inside the box after losing the ball, and against Athletic Club he stopped over a dubious throw-in. He sums it up by saying the Dane plays very close to the edge.

For Pérez the difference is clear: an individual mistake that costs a goal can be absorbed, but one that leaves you a man down is practically a death sentence in a knockout tie. He likes the fact that Hjulmand stares everyone in the eye, but believes a player with his experience has to know how to choose where, how and when.