"Giuliano must play: he's the only one who runs in behind"

Alberto Pérez leaps to Giuliano's defence after his goal against Levante: in an Atleti side where everyone wants the ball to feet, he is the only one who stretches the team in depth. Even his critics should see it.

Looking back on the win away at Levante, Alberto Pérez asks Rubén Uría for permission to single out Giuliano. He acknowledges that plenty of critical comments have been made about him, but believes that by now even his harshest critics must realise what he brings.

His argument is that he is the most distinctive player in the squad: the one who runs in behind, and that is what stretches a team. He describes the goal from the very start of the move: he accelerates flat out from midfield, collides with the full-back, gets his arm across to win the position and offers an option in behind.

Nobody else does that, he insists: Julián, Baena and practically everyone else drop deep to receive the ball to feet. That energy and physicality give Atleti a great deal, and his value is felt above all when he doesn't play, because the team lacks a degree of intensity, passion and aggression.