Valencia head coach Carlos Corberan has heaped praise on Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq following his decisive goal in their 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday.
Los Ches continued their fight for survival in La Liga with a crucial home win at the Mestalla, where Sadiq led the attack in the absence of the injured Hugo Duro.
The Nigerian forward delivered yet again, scoring the match-winner in the 54th minute to secure all three points for Valencia.
His recent form has been remarkable, with four goals in his last four league outings, including a brace in the dramatic 3-3 draw against Osasuna last week.
Speaking after the game, Corberan praised Sadiq’s resilience and mentality, highlighting his growing influence in the squad.
“I have three great forwards because Sadiq is showing it. Hugo has shown it, but he is not available at the moment. The same goes for Rafa Mir. I have absolute and full confidence in the three forwards we have,” Corberan stated.
“I think that Sadiq today exemplifies what the game was like. A game with mistakes at times. And with the mentality to recover from those situations that he had. A game of not losing faith, of assistance, until achieving the objective.
“I think there is a parallel between what Sadiq did today during the game and what the team did.”
Valencia’s victory lifted them two places up to 16th in the table, now one point clear of the relegation zone after 27 matches.
With Sadiq’s resurgence, Corberan may face a tough decision when Duro regains full fitness.
While the Spanish striker has been the club’s first-choice forward, his goal-scoring record has been inconsistent.
Sadiq’s current momentum makes a strong case for him to retain his starting spot, and dropping him could be a costly gamble for both the player and the team.
As Valencia look to build on this momentum, all eyes will be on Corberan’s next selection and whether Sadiq can continue his rich vein of form in their bid to secure La Liga survival.
