Diego Simeone launches fresh defence of under-fire Atlético Madrid star

Diego Simeone launches fresh defence of under-fire Atlético Madrid star

Atlético Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has once more moved to defend an under-fire member of his attacking ranks.

The player in question? Julián Alvarez

.Frontman Alvarez, for his part, is fresh off another largely underwhelming display, on Sunday night.

Afforded a starting berth in Atlético’s La Liga meeting with Rayo Vallecano, the Argentine international struggled to make his presence felt, en route to a disappointing 1-1 stalemate.

This marks just the latest disappointing display on the part of the summer arrival in Spain’s capital, who has, to date, failed to come even close to living up to his price-tag.

The fact remains, though, that Alvarez’s La Liga stint has only just begun, a point which boss Diego Simeone was eager to drive home once more in the aftermath of last night’s clash.

Speaking to the media, in quotes gathered by Mundo Deportivo, Alvarez’s fellow countryman assured:

“He’s a forward who is playing in his position and I don’t see anything strange. I’m giving him minutes because he’s a very important player for us, he’s a great player. He’s not getting in front of goal like he would like. The same thing is happening to Sørloth. The goals are going to come.”

The details of the brilliant response conjured up by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé to the attempts of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García to put him off before stepping up to take a penalty have on Monday been revealed.

Real, of course, locked horns with Espanyol over the weekend.

And, en route to an eventual 4-1 rout, the aforementioned Mbappé was responsible for rounding out the scoring in Spain’s capital.

As much came with 90 minutes on the clock, upon Los Blancos being awarded a spot-kick.

Mbappé, who was yet to add his name to the scoresheet, was quickly handed the ball, to take responsibility of adding some gloss to the scoreline.

Prior to converting, though, the summer arrival in La Liga was approached by Espanyol no.1 Joan García, who had some choice words for Mbappé in an attempt to throw him off his game.

Still working on his Spanish, though, as much failed to have the desired effect on Real Madrid’s frontman, who humourously responded by assuring:

“I don’t understand a f**king word you just said to me.”

This, of course, comes after Ter Stegen was condemned to a long-term spell on the sidelines.

The German international was stretchered out of Barcelona’s La Liga meeting with Villarreal on Sunday, subsequently confirmed to have suffered a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee.