Tuning for Saúl

Simeone he barely has six footballers to work during this selection break and one of them is Saúl, usual with Spain until this beginning of the course. The 25-year-old midfielder have recently overcome an injury, although he had time to play against Lokomotiv and Cádiz before this FIFA date. Now, Atlético's coaching staff takes advantage of this fortnight to prepare Saúl, called to be important in the team during the season.

The ilicitano missed five games in October (Celta, Bayern, Betis, Salzburg and Osasuna) due to injury, a very strange situation for him. In fact, since 2015-16 began (that is, in five seasons) he had only missed five games due to physical reasons. On this occasion it was decided not to force the player until he recovered and it was on the trip to Moscow that he returned to the group and, directly, to the eleven. He started and played the first half against Lokomotiv. Against Cádiz he played the entire game.

The jump from the infirmary directly to the initial team is just another sign that Saúl is indisputable for Simeone. At the level of Oblak and Koke and, until their recent explosion, even above João Félix. On '8' the season started forming double pivot with Koke, then with Thomas and after moving to the left wing. They are the two positions that he manages, now that it seems that will not return to the side except in an emergency. Simeone asks him again deployment in the middle and arrival to the area, for what you need to get your best shape as soon as possible. Also, the competition is getting very expensive in both positions. In the middle, Herrera grows, Torreira has settled and Kondogbia promises war; on the left, Carrasco was one of the most reliable pieces until he was injured. Cholo will demand, as always, the best of his versatile footballer.

Saúl also intends to recover his love affair with the goal as soon as possible. His last goals were the two penalties he scored at the Camp Nou in June. The youth squad has a curious mark in his possession: whenever he has scored as rojiblanco, the team has not lost. He has scored in 40 games (41 goals), of which Atlético won 34 and drew six. With Spain (the Absolute and the Sub-21) the same thing happens; if he sees the door, the team does not lose.

Cholo works thoroughly with him to polish details, to couple him with a João Félix who likes to fall to the left, with a Herrera who is taking over the controls of the team, with Hermoso and Lodi, the two options on the side of his lane … Everything to recover the necessary best version of Saúl … and that he returns to the National Team.