Enrique Cerezo: “We are living through the club's brightest decade”

Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético de Madrid, reviews in AS 2020, a year marked by the global crisis caused by the pandemic. The rojiblanco president hopes that in 2021 we will overcome the health crisis and the rojiblancos fans can once again cheer on the team at the Wanda Metropolitano.

We say goodbye to 2020, a very difficult year due to the pandemic that we are suffering throughout the world …

No one could imagine or guess the serious health, social and economic crisis that we are facing. Covid-19 has changed our lives in a radical and traumatic way. The pandemic hits all of Humanity, but it is in the crisis and in these dramatic moments that we are going through when the values ​​of the people and the strength of our club have been crucial to move forward.

COVID-19 has claimed millions of lives around the world. Many athletic have also left us …

Yes, I want to have an emotional memory for all the athletes who have lost their lives in this fateful 2020. We send them a sincere hug and we want to show all the support of the club to their families and relatives. We do not forget and I want to continue to pay a well-deserved tribute to the athletic legends who left us. Friends like Radomir Antic, Miguel Jones, José Luis Capón, Joaquín Peiró and Juan de Dios Román, whom we will always have in mind. Nor do I want to forget a journalist who lived with intensity and passion his feeling for the red and white colors, our beloved Chema Candela, from Radio Nacional de España. And a big hug to the family of our child player Christian Minchola. An irreparable pain and loss that broke our hearts. Rest in peace all of them.

The dedication of many groups in the fight against COVID has been very commendable …

From Atlético de Madrid we have highlighted their work and we have tried to help them with different initiatives developed together with the Red Cross, the City Council and the Community of Madrid. We wanted to have deserved recognition for the health personnel who have struggled and continue to do so in the front line during these months of the pandemic and to the different groups that have worked for the good of the rest of society. His dedication, courage and heart have saved thousands of lives even knowing that his was at risk. That is why we have wanted to pay tribute to them by dedicating our annual calendar of the Atlético de Madrid Foundation to thank them for their great work during these months.

What balance do you make of last season and what we have of the present?

First of all, I think we have to value the extraordinary squad we have. Last season we managed to qualify for this edition of the Champions League and reached the quarter-finals. We achieve the objectives and the stability to continue growing. Despite the fact that the pandemic has destroyed economic forecasts in all sectors, we have maintained a very competitive team and I believe that this effort will be rewarded at the end of the season, which is when we must do the analyzes. We are competing at a high level in all competitions thanks to the internal competition and the quality of our players, but in December you cannot make evaluations, they will come when the season ends. And in the meantime we do not get out of facing each game as a final.

As he points out, the economic situation of football has been greatly affected by the pandemic, with a tremendous drop in income in the sector …

The generated economic crisis is affecting the whole world in a terrible way and football is no stranger to it. Revenues from ticket sales, season tickets, event organization have fallen … The budgets of all the clubs in the world have been greatly affected and we have been forced to make very complicated decisions. These are very hard times, but we must be grateful for the effort and complicity of our sponsors, without whom it would have been impossible to face this situation.

December 23 marked nine years since the arrival of Diego Pablo Simeone to the bench …

Simeone is a legend of our club. As a player he gave everything for the rojiblancos colors and now, in his coaching cycle, he has consolidated the team into the European elite. We are living and enjoying the club's brightest decade. All of us at Atléticos are very proud of Diego and we know that we still have great moments to live.

Another who is making history is Koke …

Our captain is breaking all records, it is already club history and he is going to be one of our greatest legends. I am very happy because he is an exceptional person, as well as an excellent footballer. He is the great example for our Academy, the mirror in which all our players must look. A boy who always had the illusion of playing for Atlético de Madrid since he was little and who with work and hard work has managed to succeed in a big way.

Fans enjoy from a distance the quality that João Félix treasures. How do you see your growth?

João Félix is ​​showing what an exceptional player he is. He is a very young player, but with a great personality and very mature. Last season, despite changing country, league, club, he already demonstrated his enormous quality and in this second season he is ratifying it. We are very happy to have him with us and I am sure he will give Atlético a lot of joy.

The great reinforcement for this season was the arrival of a proven scorer like Luis Suárez; What does the Uruguayan bring to the team?

At this point I am not going to discover Luis Suárez. Everyone knows what a huge player he is. One of the greatest scorers in the history of football. His arrival has given us enormous experience, he is an example for many of the young people who are in our team and it gives us a tremendous leap in quality.

He spoke before qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League and Chelsea awaits them there. How do you see the tie?

There is still a long time for that big date to arrive. Chelsea are a formidable team with a great squad. It will be a very close tie. We will do our best to reach the quarterfinals, but it will be very difficult. We have already met on several occasions in recent years and they have always been very even and competitive duels.

Another consequence that the pandemic has caused in football has been the absence of fans in the stands. Have you already gotten used to this circumstance?

No, not at all, I can't get used to it because it's one of the basic ingredients of football, of entertainment. We lack the soul that gives life to our stadium and I hope that in 2021 we will recover the fans in the stands as soon as possible. We know that each of the fans and supporters of our club live with intensity from their homes each match and I thank them for their faithful commitment and support. But we know that they are looking forward to returning to their second home and cheering on their team. Hopefully the evolution of the health situation allows it very soon.

A wish for 2021 …

Health to all and may this pandemic end as soon as possible and we can regain our previous way of life. I think it is a wish that we all share.