koke opened the hearings of the Athletic on the eve of receiving Barcelona looking back at previous encounters in the Champions League.
Elimination of Barcelona ten years ago, today historic again. “Obviously it can be a match for history, trying to reach the semifinals is historic and incredible and we are not thinking about the Cup final. We have to play this as if it were a final.”
Three semi-finals played, what has changed since then and what I imagined. “Good question, my age has changed, I’m a little older, but with the same enthusiasm of wanting to win every game. I imagined the growth that Atlético has experienced, although you never know what can happen in minutes, hours, days… One always dreams of being at the highest level, both the club and I hope to be in the semifinal, which is what we all want.”
Scorer in the first elimination against Barca. “I saw it a few times, when these types of games come you try to motivate yourself with positive things, with what happened in 2014 and 2016. Of course I remember the goal and how the people were at the Calderón. Let’s hope they are like that again and it will be another nice night for everyone.”
Simeone. “Thanks to him the club has had enormous growth, the players have followed him to the death with an incredible idea and we continue to do so. He bet on me from the day he arrived, we never crossed the line of coach-player but he knows how much I love him and the affection I have for him.”
Barça trusts in the comeback. “We are very motivated, it is normal that in Barcelona they think like that. My teammates are motivated, with respect for the rival, but with the desire to be in the semifinals.”
Continuity. “I have decided what I am going to do tomorrow: give everything to get through the tie. This is not the time to talk about it even though everyone knows what I think. But I am focused on the game.”
Ball played from behind. “They are a team that suffocates you and presses you and we must have the personality of wanting to have the ball.”
