Juan Cruz: “I was trained at Atleti and it is a very special game”

He was trained in the Atlético de Madrid quarry, where he played until the last year of Youth. Last summer, Juan Cruz (Madrid, 28 years old) ended up in Osasuna and this season he has made his dream of playing in the First Division come true. They are looking forward to the match that Wanda Metropolitano awaits them, where they will start. Despite how much Atleti is at stake, they want the red victory to finish the season as high as possible.

Is this a special match for you?

Of course. I was trained at Atlético de Madrid and it is a very special game. I'm really looking forward to it. I was there until the last year of junior.

What memories do you keep from that time?

I have very nice memories. It was where I learned, where I met a lot of people. They are memories that you have and it is a club that I have a very special affection for.

Did he coincide with a player from the current Atleti squad?

No. There are none left. I agreed with some who are now on other teams. I have an acquaintance, but not because he was with me in the quarry.

But someone he crossed paths with …

When I arrived there was Koke, who was the great captain. What happens is that they raised him to the first team and I did not coincide. I am very friendly with Marcos Llorente because we are from the same place and our families are friends. Those are the two players I know the best.

He returns to what he will somehow consider his home just when Atlético is playing the League …

Yes. It's going to be a beautiful and special match, both for them and for us. They are playing a title and we, thank God, we arrived with our homework done and after the season went very well. We are going to enjoy a very nice game. When you go to the Wanda and fields of that level, what interests you is to enjoy it and what happens on the field.

Visiting such a strong opponent with homework done gives a lot of peace of mind.

Sure. We have already met the objective. Being the year of the Centennial, it is a pity that our public and our people have not been able to enjoy it. It is a thorn that remains nailed us, because it would have been a beautiful year to live it together with the fans, but we have the peace of mind that next year we will continue in the First Division. Now, you have to finish in the best possible way.

What would you highlight about the season that Simeone's men are doing?

Great teams have great players and in this case they also have a great coach. They have been with the same work idea for a long time. Face them, now that we can because we have our homework done, it is to enjoy it.

What kind of match are you looking forward to?

It is going to be very hard. They have the need because they are playing a title and they are going to go to two hundred percent. We have to try to make that noticeable as little as possible.

How have you found yourself in your first year at Osasuna?

Well. It has been a year of adaptation. Hard at the beginning, because of how the season started. Little by little, both personally and collectively, we improved and felt more comfortable. Meeting the goal in a year as important as the Centennial for us was paramount. I'm happy with how things have gone.

What has surprised you the most about Osasuna?

When I arrived I already knew that the team, the management and the fans are one and it shows a lot. It was a shame not having been able to enjoy our people in the new stadium, which has been impressive. We are looking forward to this and being able to enjoy El Sadar with our people.

With an audience it has to be spectacular …

It is one of the things that this year has stuck with us because everyone knows what full El Sadar is. We are all looking forward to you coming to see us as soon as possible.

Osasuna will be marked for you as the team with which you debuted in First.

Yes. I am very happy and grateful. I know what it took me to get there. I am very happy with the year that has come out.

Have we already seen the best version of Juan Cruz?

I am one of the people who think that you can improve every day and that is why I train. I hope to prove much more. It was a difficult year for me at the beginning. I didn't have a vacation, I had to adapt, but little by little I was feeling better. I hope from next year and day by day, to show that I can do many things.

To the city, have you adapted well?

Yes. It is a very welcoming city. Due to the issue of the pandemic, I have not been able to enjoy it as I would have liked, but as of next year, if we go back to normality, I hope to be able to enjoy it completely.