The Villarreal number 9 returned to the side against Roma after more than six months out
Roberto Soldado is back. The Villarreal number 9 made his reappearance against AS Roma in yesterday’s match at the Stadio Olimpico and did so by performing brilliantly for the 65 minutes that he was on the pitch. The striker started the game and was replaced by his teammate Adrián López.
Soldado showed that he has fully recovered from the ACL and lateral meniscus injury to his right knee, sustained at the LXXI edition of the Teresa Herrera Trophy against RC Deportivo at the Riazor stadium (9th August 2016). Three days later he was operated on by Doctor Antonio Maestro at the Begoña de Gijón hospital and now, 198 days later, he is back on the pitch, starting with last night’s official match in Rome (6 months and 14 days).
The Yellows killer striker could not hide his satisfaction: «After so long I’m enjoying it again. I’m really happy to be back and I just hope that everything keeps going like this. I’m at the Manager’s disposal».
Soldado: «We’re eliminated, which is not what we wanted. The team played for pride, putting in a great performance against a [Roma] side that came out calmer than usual, we showed how good we are, put on a good display, and in the end won 0-1 with less regular players playing very well».
«After six and a half months out I’m happy to be able to play again and I really enjoyed it. It won’t be easy for me to get back in the team as there is quite a firm base now. We have an important match against Madrid coming up, who will come here in top form, but we did it last year and we will try to do it again. We have to focus on ourselves more, we beat Real [Sociedad] and Roma, which has to give us confidence».
«I played 65 minutes [last night], and they felt quite long, but I’m available for whatever is asked of me».
