Sadiq Umar: Ex-Huddersfield coach lauds ‘exceptional’ Super Eagles striker

Super Eagles and Valencia striker Umar Sadiq has drawn praise from former Huddersfield head coach Carlos Corberan, Afrik Foot reports.

The 29-year-old came off the bench to score the only goal for his side against Athletic Club two days ago, sending Los Che to 12th position on the La Liga table.

The goal was sixth across all competitions for Valencia since joining permanently from Real Sociedad in the winter transfer window.

Carlos Corberan lauds Sadiq Umar

Despite being the hero for Valencia at the Estadio de San Mamés, the former Rangers striker has had to play the role off the bench far too often under Corberan.

Of the 22 games Sadiq has played since the turn of the year, only 10 include him being in the starting eleven, a situation he’s clearly displeased with.

Corberan, meanwhile, is firm on his decision to do what’s best for the team, rather than pander to his players’ emotions.

Still, the Spanish coach understands how frustrated Sadiq and the other Valencia players can be, given their limited opportunities to express themselves this season.

“No two players are ever the same in a dressing room, there are never two people who are equal,” the former Huddersfield Town coach said in quotes revealed by Futbol Fantasy.

“We all come from different families, different cultures, different countries, and we have to enrich ourselves and get the best out of each one, from our personality, and correct; we all have things that we can do better, correct them all.

“But I’m not talking about Sadiq, I’m talking about all of us. Learn from the good we all have, improve on things that are not our greatest virtues and that is.

“Sadiq is an exceptional boy, a player in whom the sense of humor is part of his personality.

“I don’t want to change it, I won’t change it, or pretend to change it. He is here at the club because what he gave us last year we really liked, he offers very good options to the team, so happy with it.

“This is football, when something goes well it seems that it is the result of that, and if the thing does not go well it also seems to be the result of the same.

“Absolute tranquility, and the good balanced environment with the highest demand is positive. And this group, fortunately, has those two things, although they have not always been able to reflect it on the pitch,” the 43-year-old concluded.

While Valencia are 12th on the La Liga table, they’re still not assured of top-flight safety, as they’re just four points above 18th-placed Girona with three league games to spare.