The arrival of English midfielder Conor Gallagher and Argentine striker Julian Alvarez has energised Atletico Madrid, coach Diego Simeone said on Sunday .
Gallagher, who joined this summer from Premier League side Chelsea, scored his first La Liga goal in Sunday’s 3-0 home win over Valencia.
“He came with a lot of enthusiasm and we needed that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better,” Simeone told a news conference.
“He does not stop giving his best in every game situation in which he participates.”
Another new signing, Alvarez, scored in the 93rd minute, also his first goal in the Spanish top flight since joining from Manchester City.
“We all needed him to score a goal, for him to be more relaxed, to be connected to what he likes… hopefully the goal will be the first of many,” the manager said.
“I imagine that he lives for the goal and the enthusiasm to generate this type of situations, today he appeared as he always does at the least expected moment at the end of the game when hope seems to be fading and luckily he scored.”
The Atletico boss added that the strengthened squad, which includes new signings such as Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth, is gelling very well and that allows them to compete at the level they want to.
Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino went close in the first half before Atletico took the lead in the 39th minute when new signing Gallagher finished into the bottom corner after latching on to a delightful pass from Rodrigo De Paul that was slipped through the legs of defender Cristhian Mosquera.
Alexander Sorloth, another summer signing for Simeone’s revamped side, also created a couple of dangerous chances only to be denied by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Valencia fought hard for an equaliser, with Javi Guerra’s long-range effort going wide, but they were unable to prevent Antoine Griezmann from finding the net after Lino’s header fell into his path nine minutes after the break.
Alvarez put the icing on the cake with his first goal in the Spanish top flight after joining from Manchester City, when he slotted home Rodrigo Riquelme’s cross in the 93rd minute.
“I didn’t feel any pressure (to score), I simply say that the goal happens as a result of the game and you have to be prepared for when the opportunity comes,” Alvarez told Spanish TV.
“We’re doing well as a group, we’re getting off to a good start. Now we have Champions League games coming up and we have to keep working to keep this momentum going,” he added.
Atletico, who are unbeaten this season, moved into second place, level on 11 points with Real Madrid and four behind leaders Barcelona. They face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Thursday.