Matt Doherty has admitted that he has been left 'frustrated' by his struggles for minutes since moving to Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window.
The 31-year-old had his contract at Tottenham Hotspur terminated at the end of January before making the move to Atletico, signing a six-month contract with Diego Simeone's side.
Doherty has only played 12 minutes of football since his arrival in the Spanish capital, featuring as a late substitute against Sevilla in La Liga earlier this month.
Atletico's absence from Europe this year means that they have not had a crowded fixture list, having also been knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the end of January.
As a result, Simeone's side have only had league football to focus on over the last two months, meaning that there has not been a lot of rotation in terms of the starting side.
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Doherty is widely expected to leave Atletico on a free transfer this summer, but the defender has said that he will still have fond memories of his time at the club, even if he continues to struggle for action.
"It's frustrating sometimes, but I've learned to deal with it," Doherty told reporters during a press conference on international duty with Republic of Ireland.
"I am at Atleti until the end of the season and I am using it as a learning experience.
"I am improving by training with world-class players every day. I am using the six months I have there to try to improve, to try to better understand the game, and improve in general.
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"I really couldn't say no to that kind of experience and a coach of his calibre. I always like to challenge myself. I didn't have a lot of time to think about it, but I couldn't say no to that opportunity."
Doherty made 16 appearances for Spurs this season before his departure, while he represented the North London club on 71 occasions in all competitions.
The defender captained Republic of Ireland in their 3-2 win over Latvia on Wednesday night, playing 63 minutes of the friendly in Dublin.
Doherty is also set to feature in the Euro 2024 qualifier against France on March 27 before returning to Spain, with Atletico next in La Liga action against Real Betis on April 2.
Matt Law
