Enrique Cerezo (Madrid, 1948) is in Lisbon along with the rest of the expedition and after the overwhelming of the two positives for coronavirus. But the president only wants to talk about football and, as usual, he shows a lot of optimism about what comes to Atlético.
– How do you face this final eight of the Champions League?
—We face the matches with great enthusiasm and, above all, with great desire to win. We have a great opportunity and we have two games ahead of us to get into the final.
—What a scare happened with the positives of Correa and Vrsaljko …
—It's a shame that Ángel and Sime can't be with us in Lisbon, but the important thing is that, luckily, they are well and without symptoms. His relatives have also tested negative. I hope they recover as soon as possible. They are very important to the team.
– Are you worried that everyone will give Atlético as a favorite to get into the final?
-It does not worry me. You have to play against Leipzig, eliminate them and then play another game to reach the final. But the other teams are looking for the same. We want to be in the final, but only fate knows what will happen.
—Simeone knows how to play these types of matches and that is a very advantageous point for Atlético …
—It is true that Simeone knows how to play these games. Our coaches and players are not new to this type of clash. We have prepared people, experienced footballers in Europe and we are looking for this trophy.
“Do you have a hunch with a certain player?”
-Not. We have a great squad and a great coach, although I think the star could be João Félix. He is in his environment, in his home, in his land and he will give everything in these games. But the same will happen with the rest, with Llorente, Saúl, Koke, Costa … Atlético have very important players.
“The star could be João Félix: he plays at home and has a huge desire to succeed”
—João Félix has not been the star of LaLiga, which many expected, although it has not been a disaster either …
—When you join a team the first year it's never easy. João Félix has had to adapt to Atlético, Simeone, his teammates, LaLiga … And he hasn't had a bad season. He has campaigned according to his circumstances: a new country, a new team, different teammates …
—So, you've had a year of learning …
“It's been a year to get situated.” It is rare to see a player who comes from another country have a very good first year where they go. Acclimatizing takes time and the same thing happens with our footballer.
—João Félix will play at home and I'm sure it's special for him.
—The boy has a great desire to succeed and eager to show that he is an important player. This Champions League is the opportune moment to end the season in the best way. And yes, he plays in his country, which will be different for him.
—There is a general coincidence that football owes Atlético a Champions League …
—We have played three finals and due to various circumstances we could not win them. Football owes us a Champions League and I hope this is it. Football is like that, we had the Champions League in hand three times, but at the last moment it left us.
—Each lost ending was crueller than the last …
“Each one was more cruel, it's true.” We must be patient, calm and play well. And so we can win.
“What do you know about Leipzig?”
—Everyone agreed that he was the best rival we could touch. But beware, there is no small enemy. We are talking about the eight best teams in Europe and here there is no simple rival. They are a German team and as such we must have the utmost respect for them. He has finished third in his league, like us in ours, and he has important players.
“We want to get rid of the thorn of the three lost finals, each one more cruel”
– Are you more excited than ever about being the European champion?
“I have the same illusion as always.” Maybe more. It is an atypical end for everything that has happened with the pandemic. Matches were played, we won against Liverpool, but then everything stopped … The illusion of Atlético fans is still intact, we go to Lisbon with a single idea: to bring us the Champions League. We want to get rid of the thorn in the three lost finals.
“I turn to the human issue now.” For many, after everything that happened, a great victory for Atlético would be the best news of the year …
—It would be very nice for Atlético and for Spain if another Spanish team won the Champions League. For us it would be very important and I know that we would make many people happy. It would return us to a situation of champions that for the players, coaching staff, managers and fans would be very important.
– Do you feel that you are facing a historical moment?
-I think so. It's like when the first three-point-victory league was played and we were champions. Now something similar happens, they changed their venue to play the final and after all the problems it would be incredible to be able to give great joy to our fans. But I ask our fans to be patient. Tough rivals await us, it will be difficult, but we must always expect the best from our team.
– Like every summer, rumors about Oblak are triggered again and many see him in the Premier …
—Of Oblak I can only say that he has a contract with Atlético and until the contrary is proven, he is our player. He is the best goalkeeper in the world and it is logical that the five or six most important clubs in the world want to have such a goalkeeper. But everything cannot be had in this life.
—You refer to the clause of any important player, but are you afraid of running out of Oblak?
-No fear. No way. Life has shown us things and I am convinced that Oblak will continue to play for Atlético.
—Last year there was a great restructuring in the squad, but important players like Oblak, Saúl, Giménez are still at the club despite the interest of other teams …
—That speaks of a good job from the technical secretariat, with Andrea Berta at the helm. And that shows that when work is done well, it is good. Also, I have to say something else talking about this.
“It is noteworthy that Simeone, after eight years, has the same illusion as the first day”
-Tell me…
—Another important issue is having Cholo Simeone in such a fantastic way. He has been with us for eight years and in the eight years he has put us in the Champions League. I think I can proudly say that there will be few coaches in the world, perhaps excluding Manchester United (Ferguson), who have spent so many years at the same club with such success. And what remains in Atlético.
“I mean, there's Cholo for a while …
-You are right. Despite the criticism it has received from many people. But one thing is clear: Cholo's results at Atlético are unquestionable. Some criticize Simeone's way of playing, but he is the one who rules at Atlético and does what he wants to do. The results are good.
—The technician seems with the same illusion of always …
—He shows a magnificent illusion and it is worth noting that after eight years it continues as the first day. Surely in five or six years he will continue with the same desire and fighting to give Atlético titles and triumphs.
-Finished. What would you give to win the Champions League?
-Well I do not know. I think of the illusion that so many people would see seeing us bring the Champions League to Madrid and offer it to Madrid fans and to all the Atlético players around the world. I would remember many people, Jesús Gil, who was president and my friend. And of all the players who have been in this stage of Simeone. Many collaborated and helped Atlético be where it is.
“Is there any important news at the club level?”
—We work with the institutions so that the Atlético name is present in the institutions. Soon there may be news regarding our Sports City and a number of other things. We will surely have good news.
“Give me a result against Leipizig …”
-Win. Let's go to Lisbon to do it. Win. I don't care if it's 1-0 unfair penalty in the last minute.