I get the feeling Lautaro took this loss extremely hard. If anything he probably cares too much. He’s not an idiot. He knows his legacy and how he’s perceived especially after the World Cup. He wanted this more than anything. If anything his lack of social media or speaking the media shows he’s probably downright depressed.
The worrying thing with Lautaro is that mentally he seems to be losing the battle. I hate to bring up Icardi who is in my opinion is half the player Lautaro is, however there was always something about his mentality on the pitch. I would almost describe it as indifference. It wasn’t that he necessarily raised his game for the big moments it was just that he didn’t seem to care anymore than a regular day.
Lautaro obviously does let the outside pressure and expectations affect him. Realistically we haven’t seen the same player in Europe since he was linked to Barcelona. And even his Serie A form prior to last year was extremely hot and cold.
The question for him is whether he can turn it around with more experience and age. For some it does happen. It’s hard to remember now but some really great players had similar stigmas earlier in their career. CR7 and Robben come to mind. However for every player like that there is also a Higuain or Lukaku who never got over the hump.
It’s up to Lautaro to decide which path he’s going to take. He’s still only 26 so he hasn’t even entered his prime. He needs to use his phone to talk to a sports psychologist, not post on instagram.
100% correct about Lautaro's reaction to the defeat. I believe it's largely due to the team's improved performance this season. The players have grasped what it takes to excel as a team, with clear roles and strategies, especially evident in our Serie A campaign. This loss against Atletico may signify the first major setback despite our cohesive playstyle. Last year, losses were more expected, and our success in the Champions League was somewhat miraculous. This season, however, there's a deeper disappointment because we know we're capable of more. The players knew that too.
Regarding his mentality vs. Icardi's; Maurito didnt care if it was a Serie C team's GK in a summer friendly match or Champions League Finals. But that all comes with a price, a price that Mauro is paying it right now - never reaching his potential, not even coming close, because of cheap reality tv show drama in his personal life. Not saying that the one is connected with the other, just in Mauro's case, seems like they are interconnected.
There's hope for Lauti's future improvement, especially considering his progress this season. He's already surpassed his previous seasons' performances, demonstrating growth with remarkable goals. While he may be nearing his peak potential, he's already massive asset for this team.
I expect him to improve his headers in the future a bit, and positioning in set pieces, and also his composure a bit. This is my real take, I'm not expecting some miracle.
The thing is he doesnt shy away in big matches totally. Whether it's providing an assist or initiating a goal-scoring opportunity by engaging in a duel and winning possession, he remains actively involved throughout. But yeah, he misses goals in Europe...