Jan Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia, 1993) every time has more weight at Atlético. If his performance under sticks is beyond doubt, his voice is getting deeper and deeper into the locker room. The goal faces the quarters of the Champions with the same illusion as his companions, but with the feet on the ground. With the serenity and sobriety that he shows in the goal, Oblak attends to AS by video call before starting this final to 8 unrepeatable in Lisbon, the city that saw him emerge as a goalkeeper at Benfica and where he dreams of lifting Atlético's first Champions League.
How is the team after the two positives for coronavirus?
In the last few days we have experienced difficult moments and we have all been a bit stressed by the tests. It is a pity that two colleagues have tested positive and have had to stay in Madrid. We are sure that we are doing well, we have trained what we could, we are preparing normally and we are going to arrive well.
Have you been able to speak with Correa and Vrsaljko?
Yes, I have not spoken much with them, but I have communicated by message and they are fine, they do not have any symptoms or any problems. At least, since it has been their turn, that they are well without symptoms, I hope they recover quickly and that throughout the recovery time they do not have any problems.
How do you analyze Leipzig without Werner?
Leipzig with and without Werner is a slightly different team, but it is neither better nor worse. It has many changes, a lot of quality and this year throughout the season they have shown it in the German league and in the Champions League. They are quite an offensive team, but they also defend well and if you look at the numbers I think that in Germany they are the second or third team with the least thrashing. It is not only a team that attacks well, it also makes high pressure and moves the ball quickly and surely a difficult game will await us against a team with great enthusiasm and many resources.
They are given as favorites, do you prefer to go undercover?
What is said outside does not interest us. We are aware of what we can do and we know that it will be difficult against anyone if we do not enter the field well. It does not matter the name of the rival team, if we are not at a maximum level and if we are not concentrated we can have problems. Leipzig are a good team, with very good players and we can have a lot of problems. We do not have in mind that we are favorites and we are going to enter the game as against any other team.
“If we are not focused we can have problems”
Oblak
Have you spoken to your compatriot Kampl?
Yes, we have sent each other some messages. The truth is that we haven't talked much about the game, more about personal life, we get along with the national team and he's a good player. If he participates, he will demonstrate it on the field.
At Atleti there are players with a lot of experience.
That experience can benefit us, but other players without so many games in the Champions League are not going to enter differently, they have been playing football for a long time. In general, we have a fairly experienced team and I don't think we are going to lack maturity for a game like Leipzig.
Nagelsmann said they are a provocative team, does it hurt? Does it motivate them?
It does not hurt me. The truth is that I did not know that he had said that, before a game I do not read much. I respect every opinion, and I will not comment on anything. Everyone thinks what they think, I know that we are not provocateurs, but if someone thinks like that, I will respect those who think differently from me.
Does playing a game benefit them? Are you psyched for a penalty shootout?
You play a game and it's new to everyone. I don't see any benefit to that, we have always played two games well and the home game gave us life. Now we don't have the fans and we have to be prepared for everything, for 90 minutes, 120 minutes or a penalty shoot-out.
“You have to be prepared for everything, 90 minutes, 120 or penalties”
Oblak
The Champions is played in a city of fond memories for you.
Yes, Lisbon is a special city for me. I came here when I was 17, then I was on loan to several teams in Portugal from different cities, but Lisbon is the first city I went to when leaving my country. I have a special memory in my head, but it doesn't matter a little bit to win the Champions League in Lisbon, Madrid, Milan or London, it will mean the same to me and I hope it will be this year.
Tell us about Llorente. Did you ever think that he could be a good striker?
No, not really. We never thought he would finish as a forward, but in training in all the time he has been here, it has been seen that he has a good shot from afar and is fast, although as a forward I did not see it. But Liverpool arrived, entered, scored two goals and showed that he has the quality to play at the top. I am happy for him, he has found the place, which is difficult in the first season, and he has done it in a position where he had never played. We are happy for him and I hope that in these games he does as well as in recent months.
Who is not having it easy either is João Félix, who came from Benfica like you …
The beginnings here are always difficult. I have suffered enough, I know how it is, how it can feel. But with time, if you have quality, patience and a cool mind, your time always comes and then you have to do it well and things go the way they should …
“The beginnings here are difficult, I know how João Félix can feel”
Oblak
Do you think what it cost weighs you?
I don't think about it and I think neither does he. That's just a plus, for your confidence it's good. He has shown the quality he has in many games and I am sure he will succeed. He's young and it's not easy, but he will.
And Diego Costa. Koke said in AS that when he is well, the team notices him … Do you see him as especially motivated?
When Diego is well, it means a lot to the team and it shows, yes. When he puts pressure, when he plays as the team needs, he helps us a lot. He is in a good moment and very well prepared physically, so he can give us a lot.
Casillas said that a goal is worth the same as a save. Since you've been at Atlético, is it the season that has 'scored the most goals'?
First of all, Iker has won everything and I would like to congratulate him and wish him the best in the face of the new challenges. And yes, an important save is like a goal; If you don't fit, you only have to score one, and if you fit one shot, you have to make two. Every stop you don't make is one more goal you need.
“I wish Iker the best in his new projects”
Oblak
After winning the last four Zamora awards, is it a step behind you or the team's failure to achieve this?
No, with the season and how difficult it has been, I never thought about Zamora, nor when we won it. We haven't actually conceded more goals than last year (two less), so we haven't done badly. Madrid was very good in the last stage and they deservedly won the League and Zamora. I did it four years in a row, not this one, but the important thing is the team's objectives and, with how difficult it was, we have entered the Champions League. It was an obligation and I have thought more about that.
This week, he said that they have met the goal of qualifying for the Champions League, but that they were looking for something more at the beginning of the season and it has not happened. What was your aspiration and why has it not been fulfilled?
One is the objective that the club sets and its need and another is the one that I had in mind, my hope. This was to compete more with Barça and Madrid until the end of the season. It couldn't be, it turned out as it did and the objective was met, but my hope was not.
“The objective in the League was fulfilled, but my hope was not”
Oblak
In England there is talk of a strong interest from Chelsea and that they could approach the Premier if they are not satisfied with Atlético's planning …
This is not the time, now it's Leipzig. I do the balance of the season when the last game is over and hopefully we have three left. Then there will be time to talk. But first, Leipzig. I really want to pass.
Many people say that this Atleti deserves a Champions League. Is the time?
Like Atlético, everyone deserves a Champions League, all of us who are here deserve it, but I hope our moment has come. It is difficult to think beyond this game, you have to beat Leipzig and then look at other things. But I couldn't be happier for me, for the team and for all Atlético if we win this Champions League.