Guardiola: Spain has yet another huge talent
PEP GUARDIOLA was asked if the Saul Niguez goal that had beaten his Bayern Munich side reminded him of Leo Messi. He stopped short of that comparison but admitted: ‘Spanish football has found another fine talent, it was a brilliant goal.’ Predictably Diego Simeone tried to play down his 21-year-old midfielder’s performance. ‘He still has a lot to improve in of course,’ he said. ‘People now want to pin medals on him but everything that is happening to him is deserved because he has never stopped working and believing in his own ability.’ They were all trying to call Saul in the 2013-14 season when Atletico Madrid sent him on loan to Rayo Vallecano. Scouts made regular trips to Madrid but instead of going to the Santiago Bernabeu or Atletico’s Vicente Calderon they took the 20-minute taxi journey to the edge of the city, to the Vallecas neighbourhood where Saul Niguez, then aged 19, was playing for perennial strugglers Rayo. Manchester United sent Phil Neville, who was then working for David Moyes at Old Trafford. Arsenal and Chelsea were also regulars at Rayo’s tiny three-sided ground. But they all underestimated Atletico coach Diego Simeone — he knew what he had and there was absolutely no way he was going to let the Spain Under 21 star leave the club. After his stunning strike last night, Saul has more goals in this season’s Champions League than any other Spaniard. No wonder there is a clamour for Vicente del Bosque to give him a late call-up for this summer’s Euros. There are four Spaniards in the Bayern side and Saul stepped away from three of them to score his first-half goal. Thiago Alcantara was left trailing in his wake. Left back Juan Bernat came across but was given the slip with one drop of the shoulder. Xabi Alonso was similarly sent in the wrong direction before Saul bent his left-foot shot around David Alaba and Manuel Neuer. Real Madrid brought 11-year-old Saul from his home town of Elche near Alicante into their academy. In a recent interview with El
Mundo he said he was bullied by fellow youth-teamers who stole his boots and food. By age 12 he had left and joined Atletico. ‘It’s the most important goal of my career for sure, and it could be the most beautiful too,’ said the man who may just have put Atletico Madrid in their third European Cup final.