Football Season Guide

Serie A
Brazil
Serie A
2017
Atletico Mineiro
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Atletico Mineiro

In


Elias (Mid, Sporting CP), Danilo Barcelos (Def, América-MG), Adilson (Mid, Terek Grozny), Marlone (Att, Corinthians, on loan), Henrique (Att, Paraná, end of loan), Felipe Santana (Def, free agent), Rafael Moura (Att, Figueirense FC, end of loan),

Out


Lucas Pratto (Att, São Paulo), Wescley (Mid, Vissel Kobe), Hyuri (Att, CQ Dangdai Lif., on loan), Henrique (Att, Novorizontino, on loan), Jesús Dátolo (Mid, EC Vitória), Marion (Att, América-MG), Ronaldo Conceição (Def, Peñarol), Edcarlos (Def, Olimpia), Leandro Donizete (Mid, Santos FC), Renan Oliveira (Att, América-MG), Dodô (Att, Chapecoense, on loan), Filipe Soutto (Mid, Red Bull, on loan), Clayton (Att, Corinthians, on loan), Capixaba (Att, Ferroviária, on loan), Carlos (Att, Internacional, on loan), Patric (Def, EC Vitória, on loan), Júnior Urso (Mid, SD Luneng, end of loan)

Atlético Mineiro are a favourite to win the Brazilian Serie A in almost every season and that will be the expectation as they prepare for the 2017 campaign. Last season ended in disappointing fashion, with the team limping towards the finish line and placing fourth, while they also lost the Brazilian Cup final to Gremio. The reason it was so disappointing to finish last season so low was because Atlético Mineiro boasted one of the best squads in the division, yet they have been able to retain most of their attacking stars like ex-Brazil internationals Fred and Robinho. Lucas Pratto did leave, but the squad should still be one of the strongest in the country – although it should be worth noting that this actually hurt Atlético on occasion last season whenever there was an international break, as most of their stars were called up by their national teams. In terms of coaching, Roger Machado Marques is the man set to lead them into the season and he is promising, even if fairly inexperienced. So far his methods have yet to fully take hold, even if the team shot to the top of the fairly uncompetitive Minas Gerais State Championship. He’ll need a positive start of the season to stay in his post as there can be no excuses when the squad is so star-studded, even if it is true that it is an ageing squad which may not quite add up to the sum of its parts. It should also be noted that Atlético have one of the most significant home advantages in the country and they went on an impressive 12 match unbeaten run in front of their boisterous home fans in last season’s competition.

Target


Their target for the 2017 campaign will be to win the whole thing. Yet they may find it tough to battle for the very top spot and would at the very least expect to match last year’s fourth place finish.