Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético de Madrid, clarified that they are not satisfied with anything other than qualifying for the continental competition. “The Champions League is our pending task,” he stressed.
Updated on 10/09/2024 – 06:03hs EST
© IMAGO/AOP.PressAtletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has said the club needs to play another Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Atlético de Madrid have three Champions League finals on their shoulders which they were unable to win. One was in the 1973/1974 season, which they lost 5-1 on aggregate to Bayern Munich, and the other two, the most painful for the Atlético fans, were against Real Madrid in 2013/2014 in Lisbon by 4-1 and in 2015/2016 in Milan on penalties.
Therefore, although under Diego Simeone’s command Atleti has already accumulated 12 consecutive seasons participating in the continental competition (something that was not at all common in the history of the red-and-white club), President Enrique Cerezo pointed out that it is no longer enough to just qualify and that it is time to lift the Orejona.
“The Champions League is our pending subject. Let’s see if we can make it to another final. This year, the team has a very important challenge and is prepared for anything.”said one of the Atlético de Madrid authorities, in an interview with the Telecinco program Babylon Show, days before the debut in the reformed UEFA tournament against Leipzig.
Along the same lines, Enrique Cerezo mentioned the investment that the institution made in players such as Julián Álvarez: ”The demand is maximum, they understand ita great effort has been made to have a great team. This year has to be very good in terms of sport, the team and the fans have to understand that”.
On the other hand, he referred to the start of Cholo’s team in the local championship with two wins (over Girona at the Metropolitano Stadium and Athletic Club de Bilbao at the San Mamés Stadium) and two draws (Villarreal away and Espanyol at home): “We have started LaLiga well, we are third, tied with second”.
Enrique Cerezo asked to play a new final with Real Madrid
The two finals with Real Madrid for the UEFA Champions League They left Atlético de Madrid with blood in their eyes. That is why the Colchonero fans’ greatest wish is to meet the Merengue again in the same stage. to, in some way, heal the pain they have been carrying for a decade.
This is what Enrique Cerezo emphasized in the same interview, looking ahead to the 2024/2025 season: “We hope to fight for the Champions League and we hope that it will be another victory for Atlético de Madrid, We need another Champions League final against Real Madrid”.
The rivals that Atlético de Madrid faced in the League Phase of the Champions League
Atlético de Madrid will debut in the League Phase of the Champions League against Leipzig next Thursday, September 19. Then, in order, they will face: Benfica (V) October 2; Lille (L) on October 23; PSG (V) November 6; Sparta Prague (V) November 26; Slavic Bratislava (L) December 11; Leverkusen (L) on December 21st and RB Salzburg (V) on January 29, 2025.
