In its reproach on the need to leave the skinpointed Abelardo Fernández openly to the bench players who had played the final minutes of Espanyol-Levante, last Saturday. And, whether or not it was the main object of his criticism, who has become a substitute par excellence is Matías Vargas. The same as last July, and until the arrival of Raúl de Tomás, it was the highest transfer in the history of the club, for 10.5 million.
The 'Monito' has just completed a lap without contesting a single match as a starter, a fact that worsens compared to its immediately previous baggage. From day 12, that is, During the last 19 games, Vargas has added 134 minutes, distributed on eight occasions in which he has started from the bench, as happened on Saturday against Levante. However, the Argentine had started in ten of the first 11 days, accumulating in that section 828 minutes.
That powerful start, coupled with the fact that tHe also performed in the early stages of the Europa League, where he even scored five goals., collide with the need for an adaptation for footballers experiencing their first season in Europe. Also remember that Vargas was the player who suffered the most from the COVID-19, although this would have only affected three of these 19 days.
Now have eight games to flip the sock, either to help achieve a goal that has been put uphill, such as permanence, or to tune in for the coming seasons. In one way or another, Espanyol must amortize their payment for a footballer who has quality to spare, and that he proved his worth in Argentina, since he became an absolute international.