Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says a mini dip in form for young attacker Angel Correa is just part of the natural process of his "growth as a person and as a footballer."
Having missed all of his first season at Atletico due to a heart issue, Correa burst into the 2015-16 campaign with fine goals against Eibar in La Liga and Benfica in the Champions League, and also scored on his senior Argentina debut against Bolivia in September.
However, the 20-year-old has not started a game since mid-October, and not featured at all in Atletico's last few outings, even as Simeone's side struggle for goals up front.
The Argentine coach told a news conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League Group game at home to Galatasaray that he had no doubt Correa would be playing and impressing again soon.
"Angel [Correa] is growing up like any other 20-year-old," Simeone said. "He started the season scoring and as a starter here and with his national team [Argentina]. All of this is part of his growth as a person and as a footballer. We trust him a lot."
Simeone also spoke about the example of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who had some difficult moments after joining for €16 million from Benfica in summer 2014, but was now firmly established as first choice and widely seen as one of La Liga's best.
"I always praise hard work and commitment, and the way [Oblak] won himself a place in the team," he said. "He arrived, didnt play, got injured, and [Miguel Angel] Moya did well. He waited for his moment, worked, and when you put the effort in these things happen in football. We are very happy with him, he has an enormous future. We hope his improvement does not stop."
Atletico need just a point to ensure qualification for the last 16 against Galatasaray at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night -- but Simeone said he would send his side out with the simple aim of winning the game.
"All games have their own story, we don't know yet how this will go," he said. "The best thing to do is win, and we are preparing for that, we need to play a big game in the way we like to do. Beforehand, you always want to win."