With the Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid approaching, Atletico president Enrique Cerezo stepped into the spotlight to share his thoughts on the derby.
Ahead of the high-stakes clash, Cerezo spoke about everything from past clashes to current challenges and offered his perspective ahead of another Madrid showdown.
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First looking at the recent history between the two sides, Cerezo was careful not to read too much into Atletico’s 5-2 win over Real Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano earlier this season.
While the result is still fresh in the mind, the president stressed that derbies take on a life of their own, especially in the knockout rounds.
“Every derby is different, especially a two-legged game like this. It will be a good game.” he said, according to AS.
Cerezo then spoke about the significance of the game for Atletico Madrid at this stage of the season.
The Super Cup offers an opportunity to reset and refocus ambitions after a shaky league. Speaking about the importance of the derby, he explained:
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“It means getting back on track after a league season where we didn’t do well … getting back on track and aiming to win the title.”
Cerezo’s predictions
When asked for his thoughts on the game, the Atletico president struck an optimistic tone.
Enrique Cerezo reflects on the Madrid derby. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“We’re going to have a good game and we’re going to win like we always do.
“The other thing is, we need a little bit of luck, which we’ve lacked at other times…”
Cerezo also commented on the absence of Kylian Mbappe due to injury.
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Rather than seeing it as an advantage, the Atletico president expressed disappointment that one of football’s greatest stars was unavailable.
“I prefer the best player to play. It’s a pity that Mbappe can’t come because of injury. I hope he can play.”
Finally, the conversation turned to the relative stability of the two clubs’ benches.
While Xavi Alonso struggles to cement his status in his first season at Real Madrid, Diego Simeone has been Atletico’s leader for 14 years.
“We have him because he’s great, because he does a great job, he gives us championships, wins and most importantly, we love him.
“In football it sucks every time you get sacked, but that’s life,” he pointed out.
