Two headline members of the first-team setup at Atlético Madrid have tonight forwarded messages of support to Rojiblancos star Saúl Ñíguez.
As much comes fresh off an outing to remember for the Spanish international.
Atlético, of course, marked their return to action a short time ago, closing out the La Liga gameweek in a meeting with Villarreal at La Cerámica.
The capital outfit headed into proceedings absolutely desperate for a return to winning ways, amid the club’s ongoing pursuit of a top-4 berth.
And, when all was said and done, secure all three points is precisely what Diego Simeone’s troops managed.
Not only that, but it was the aforementioned Saúl who proved himself the hero.
Midfielder Saúl has endured a difficult season in Madrid to date, with his exploits in the lead-up to the international break in particular having seen the former Chelsea loanee singled out for heavy criticism across not only Atlético’s fanbase, but all of Spain.
On Monday, upon slotting home what ultimately proved to be the winner in a 2-1 result mere minutes after stepping foot on the pitch, Saúl, understandably, let his emotions show.
Looking a combination of excited and relieved in equal measure, the 29-year-old was quickly mobbed by his teammates, who appeared equally happy for Saúl to finally have his moment in the spotlight.
And, as alluded to above, post-match, similar sentiments have only continued to pour in.
First, Axel Witsel, who opened the scoring on Monday, revealed his delight for his midfield partner, as cited by Mundo Deportivo:
“When Saúl scored the goal, I was very happy first for the victory, but also for him, because it was a very difficult moment for him.”
And Diego Simeone soon echoed a similar message, adamant that he has remained a firm believer in the talents of a player who once acted as an absolutely crucial member of his squad, despite his recent struggles:
“Saúl entered well, scored a great goal, finished the play in the best way,” the Argentine began, as per MD. “I hope it gives him the strength to get out of the zone he was in. The facts speak for themselves. I have played him many times, I believe in him, he is an important player and I hope he can continue giving us things.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
