In two months (March 8), Saúl Ñíguez's (Elche, 1994) first day will be nine years old with the Atlético jersey.
It was in a Europa League match against
Besiktas
, at the Vicente Calderón.
He was 17 years old and had a hairstyle and face typical of that age.
At 15 he was already racing in Second B. Saúl has spent almost a life showing his face in the elite, although last November he blew only 26 candles.
The desire, obviously, to recover its most recognizable version
e, being immersed in the roughest course since he caught the first team.
I'm not in a good moment.
The team needed something other than Saúl Ñíguez and we have to work.
I have to improve, especially mentally.
I am fine about the rest, "the rojiblanco's fourth captain, just three days ago, after Atlético's cupbearer hit in
Cornellà
, where he was as helpless as the rest of his teammates to avoid the cupbearer shipwreck. «When the players are not going through a good moment of form, it is normal that they are not mentally well.
They always require more support from the club, “they argue from the rojiblanca entity, where they insist on the importance of the player when he is in full swing.
Several important offers have been passed by in these years.
Because Saúl, despite the circumstances, continues to be an asset that is not under suspicion in the Metropolitan, but the player, always sheltered by the blanket of
Diego Pablo Simeone
, he walks in that fight against himself.
A battle more mental than physical to regain ownership, in a team where he has always had a hole.
Right now, as long as Atlético continues to win, they will only come back if something fails or, mainly, if he is able to improve.
And, as has been written, in those it is Saúl (314 games and 41 goals) has been a wild card against any ailment.
Whether it was on the left side or even on the axis of defense.
Of course, anywhere in midfield.
In the locker room everyone joked with the name of that American series: 'Better call Saul'.
His goals, apart from being decisive in important moments, were worthy of a museum.
Alone
Koke
,
Godin
,
Gabi
and
Juanfran
they have had more prominence than him in the Simeone era.
The normal thing is that, not long after, he and Koke, both rojiblancos homegrown players, lead the ranking of players most used by the Argentine coach.
Because shortly after starting the season, in addition, a muscle injury (of which the club never reported) kept him away for a month.
And suddenly, in Moscow, he returned to the scene, although far from his most refined melody. Right now, Saúl is chasing a team that, at least in the League, travels at cruising speed.
Of his last ownership, in front of
Valladolid
At the Wanda, more than a month has passed.
On the way, that mosqueo in Champions, on the frozen grass of
Salzburg
, after being substituted with the pass to the second round for finishing.
"He is confused" is heard around the player, with a contract until 2026 and that this year he will be a father for the first time.
As long as the team wins, just a setback or its own improvement will allow it to return to the place it has always frequented.
"Saúl just wants to recover and go back to being who he was," his brother insisted on Thursday
Jony
, Alcoyano player, in Onda Cero.
Llorente's mental work
Right now, as he himself recognized, he is not there to offer solutions to the team.
A mental matter that, for example, your partner
Marcos Llorente
has been working for a year.
"I have improved a lot and I still have to improve," he assured in an interview with this newspaper.
Llorente, today indisputable, had to overcome some difficult first months, with little weight in the team, after arriving from Real Madrid.
"Footballers are subjected to very high pressure, with great constant exposure", they recall in the Madrid entity. "When things do not go well, the mental aspect takes on a special value to reduce the negative impact of that situation and start the search improvement, "he emphasized to this newspaper
Alejo Garcia-Naveira
(@Alejo_GNaveira), sports psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in high performance.
«The player has to be psychologically and cognitively strong, as well as have good mental health, to avoid the negative impact of anxiety, stress, depression and negative emotional states.
Issues with a double value in times of Covid-19, "he adds. García-Naveira also warns about public overexposure.
"In balance is the key. A moderate management and exposure to the media (interviews, social networks ...) would be within reason for any player. When there is an excess, it can bring negative effects such as anxiety and stress ", he concludes. Saúl, embracing an almost vegan diet due to the benefits it has for his damaged left kidney, will wait today (4.15pm), against Athletic, from the bench.
His fight has just begun and he, as he has shown a few times, starting with those hard days in 2015 in Leverkusen, is not one to give up.
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