Nuno Santo has hinted that Alvaro Negredo could return from his Valencia exile following Rodrigo Moreno’s injury against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
The striker was dropped from Los Che’s first team a fortnight ago, reportedly for negative comments he made about the side’s performances since the start of the season, but his Coach appears to have offered him a lifeline.
“We’ve yet to see the extent of Rodrigo’s injury, but I have total confidence in all the players in the squad,” he said after the 2-1 defeat at the Vicente Calderon.
“Like I do every week, I will pick the best team, which have the most chance of winning, for our next match.
“We went from strength to strength [against Atleti]. In the first half we struggled to keep the ball and create chances, but we were closer to our desired level in the second half and had the chance to earn a draw.
“I liked the team’s attitude and have no reason to criticise them. We must rectify the mistakes we made and work harder to achieve our objectives.
“The injury to Rodrigo, which disrupted our plans, and Atleti’s first goal, in which we paid for an individual mistake, were two decisive moments in the game.
“The defeat doesn’t disrupt our ultimate goal, which is to be among the top teams.
“We’re not pleased, feeling hurt and not satisfied with what we’ve done, but I’m happy with our attitude.
“We must work harder to improve our quality and continue on this path. For the next game, we’ll have all our [available] players to choose from.”
