Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma recently, Mozambique superstar and Atletico Madrid defender Reinildo Mandava revealed the secret behind Los Rojiblancos' defensive fortitude.
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The 28-year-old continues to carve out a remarkable career for himself, having started out in the Mozambican top division in southern Africa and gone all the way to the Spanish capital to ply his trade for one of the biggest clubs in Europe in Atletico.
Mandava's exploits in the Mocambola, the Primeira Liga and Ligue 1 have led him to becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet for Diego Simeone.
It is evident to see why. Since signing for the 11-time LaLiga champions in January this year, the team from the Spanish capital has improved significantly defensively – in the 19 games he started for Atleti in the 2021/22 campaign, completing 15 of them, the ex-Lille man helped shot-stopper Jan Oblak concede only 15 goals, as per Transfermarkt.
In the 32 matches prior to Mandava's arrival in the club's starting XI, Oblak had taken the ball out of his net 43 times.
Speaking to Soccer Laduma, the winger-turned-defender revealed what he believes to be the reason for this trend.
"Well, I came here, and I got the opportunity to come and play. And so we started to work more to improve the defence and because I was there in the defensive lines, and my fellow players trusted me," the 35-time Mozambique international said.
"It was like a teamwork. We were more concentrated on what was going on, it was a real teamwork, real defence work.
"Obviously, together with the coach and all the different positions, so I think that the team was feeling good and that was then when we began to concede less goals.
"But I don't think it is me, I think it is up to the whole team."
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The Spanish giants have had an erratic start to the new season so far, though, conceding six goals in their opening six league matches, but with a favourable run of fixtures after the international break, Mandava and his teammates will be looking to get back to that defensive solidity that seems to have been ingrained in Simeone's players over the years.
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