Lately without the status of owner, no longer indisputable, but simply habitual in LaLiga, Joao Felix
responded on his return to eleven, key scorer against him Valencia
, rediscovered with that quality 54 days later and decisive assistant for the triumph and the twelfth goal of Luis Suarez, While Diego Simeone, coach of the
Atlético de Madrid
, claimed his best version on the eve.
“I can still do much more,” remarked the Portuguese attacker about the Sunday game against him. Valencia, who rediscovered him with several of his virtues. “I know what I am capable of,” added the footballer to 'Movistar', with the naturalness that his technical conditions give off and with the conviction of his football, his shots and his goals.
In a first part of his team neither so aesthetic nor so agile in his football, nothing overwhelming and nothing incontestable, his forcefulness accelerated the solution of an undoubted predicament. Not only has Luis Suárez hit, but also Joao Felix, who clinched the tie this Sunday when the match brought less certainty to his team, when the 0-1 scoreboard also revealed what was happening on the ground.
In the 22nd minute, the Portuguese attacker kicked off sensationally with the sole of his right foot, in an even acrobatic position, the wonderful corner kick from Thomas lemar, who continues with his comeback this season, still distant from the high level for which he was signed, but much more recognizable than before.
“Karate Kid”, compared the club in its social networks the auction of Joao with the famous 1984 film. Then, already in '54, in a magnificent football exit from Mario Hermoso, led, counterattacked and assisted Luis Suárez, who invented almost out of nowhere, with no apparent angle, the 2-1. In the 62nd minute he was replaced by Angel Correa.
JOAO OVERCOMES … WITH TWELVE GAMES LESS
He did not score a goal in any competition with the red and white shirt since last December 1 to Bayern Munich (1-1). In The league from November 7 to Cadiz; a series of ten games in the tournament, of which he was more substitute, five times, than starter, four, until this Sunday, when he found his place in the initial line-up of his coach and above all a necessary goal.
According to data from SOFASCORE
, there are nine goals in 24 games between all competitions this season; the same ones he achieved in the whole of last season, when he played 36 games throughout the League, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the Spain Supercup. Then, however, he gave two fewer assists than now: three to five. And in his first 24 games of that course he had scored less than half the goals: 4.
But at no time last year did he go through a series of three consecutive days as a substitute either. At most, in the entire previous year and a half, he occupied the bench in two consecutive matches of the tournament. Too long for a footballer of his qualities, but also with perseverance, perhaps, still as he should. He had it without a doubt at the beginning of the course, he lost it the last two months and is on the way to recover it, as he demonstrated this Sunday.
SINCE NOVEMBER, WITHOUT A FULL MATCH IN LALIGA
Good for the stomp on the foot that suffered against him Cornellá in the Copa del ReyWhen he was part of an eleven of ‘substitutes’, either by technical decision, or by rotation or because others were better than him in the last duels, he had not been chosen for the start by the coach in the three previous games. Not against him Alaves nor against him Seville nor against him Eibar.
“He is a player that we need. When he's at his best, he's unbalancing, different, with situations to solve on the offensive side … We need him in that version. That is what we look for in training sessions and consequently in games ”, he said the day before. Simeone, which had already decided to return ownership.
AND Joao Felix he responded in the eleven, with a goal, with an assist and with a definitive performance. It was not enough to complete the match, replaced in the 62nd minute by Angel Correa. He has not played an entire match since November 7 against him Cadiz.
“It is not written that footballers have to play 90 minutes, otherwise there would be no squads of 21 or they would not have made five changes so that the dynamics of the matches continue to maintain a higher level. And we are all involved in that, “he said later. Simeone, asked twice about the same situation. “I am calm,‘ Cholo ’does the best for the team and that’s what I want,” said the forward earlier in a statement to ‘Movistar’ after the crash.