Diego Simeone discusses João Félix's substitution | OneFootball

Diego Simeone has assured Atlético Madrid supporters that he still has all the confidence in the world in João Félix despite coming off early in Atlético’s 3-0 win over Mallorca on Friday.

The youngster has started just twice in Atlético’s last four games and the manager insisted that Friday’s second-half substitution was purely tactical.

“We are absolutely confident in his quality, his talent and the way he plays and we need him to reproduce on the field,” he told a news conference.

“We focus on the goal of the team and the club, we do not stop at individualities. On the basis of promoting individualities, we seek to improve the collective. If we stop at the singles it would be dangerous.

“João started well against Osasuna, he had good games, [against Mallorca] he was not as fine in his game and he understood that the team needed other characteristics as with Vitolo, who worked for what the team needed.”

The victory solidified Atlético’s third-place spot, putting them five points ahead of Sevilla and eight points ahead of Villarreal with four games to play, though their opponents have a game in hand.