Saúl is on time

Saul has returned. Saúl is. For Cholo and Atleti. Atlético is playing the league title today and the Elchean has recovered the feelings of the best Saúl, the one who put Calderón at his feet with that unforgettable goal against Bayern, or the Chilean against Real Madrid, the first in the tie against Liverpool, already in the Wanda Metropolitano. That Saul. A fundamental and essential Saúl for the team and for the Argentine coach. This has not been his best season. It is a palpable reality in the numbers.

Last year, Simeone's most used outfield player, with 4,246 minutes, saw his participation cut in half, 2,610, 59% of the minutes played. Alone. No serious injuries, no explanation other than a technical decision, a drop in performance. That coming and going of eleven, yesIn having his fixed hole, the youth squad did not experience it since 2017, when Tiago's serious injury, a broken tibia that in May would push him to retire, forced him to take the step forward and become essential in the first team. Since then, if there was anything clear at Atlético, it was that Oblak, Koke and Saúl were playing. The rest would be seen.

He himself has recognized it. Saul. That this season he has had a “bad” time, that things have not turned out for him, his best year personally, he has been a father for the first timeHe lacks some of his great goals to dedicate to his daughter, Africa Ñiguez Salamanca. He still has a game to be able to achieve it, today in Valladolid. “In the bad moments I have gotten more positive things, I think I am a better player and person, and that is something that will help me for the future,” he said a few weeks ago. It was in December, at Madrid-Atlético, when he lost the untouchable band. He has not scored since January 31, only one other goal has been added this season, with two assists, his worst numbers since 2014-15. Confidence slipped from her head and that strained her legs, He filled the grass that he used to run by memory with labyrinths, from the position that touched him. Against Real he regained ownership and against Osasuna he not only kept it, he was also about to score one of those goals that are remembered forever, house brand, kiss on the wrist, but the ball crashed into the stick.

Loaned to Rayo in 2013-14, if Atlético won LaLiga, it would be their first as rojiblanco. Simeone has trusted him in recent games because he is one of his men, one of those players who die on the grass. In recent games, Atlético has had an aggressive attitude and there Saúl is very good for Cholo. Saul is brave, Saul presses, Saul steals. And that he has not forgotten that facet of arrival that he has always had. And Saúl will not be missing in the eleven of the grand final. Maybe Africa can have its goal.