Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are scheduled to play the Champions League soccer final at the Milan San Siro stadium on Saturday, May 28.
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Simeone’s side go to Milan looking for revenge after their 2014 final defeat by Real in Lisbon, and are also in search of their first European Cup crown.
Simeone acknowledged that his style of football is perhaps the reason for Atletico’s success, saying “Few teams are better – perhaps Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid – but there’s an idea about how we work and that’s what allows us to be in this privileged position”.
But Simeone says he won’t be shying away from the challenge.
Now, it is Ronaldo, Bale and French striker Karim Benzema who could have their work cut out, while Ramos and Pepe, Zidane’s preferred centre-back partnership, will be wary of a repeat of recent history.
“To play a final is fantastic”. Atletico led 1-0 deep into added time, only for Madrid to equalize and go on to win 4-1 after extra time.
“Without any doubt it’s the most important, special and lovely game of my life”, added Torres, whose Atleti loan deal and contract at parent club AC Milan expire at the end of the season.
“I’ve played for great teams, and won many things, but this one is special, it is different, it’s what I wanted when I was a kid”.
Not that I think (by any means) it’s a given we’ll beat Atletico as this will be a very close final with it hard to call so it “might” be the moment for Atleti.
“Tomorrow is the game of my life without doubt”.
Although Torres won the Champions League with Chelsea and two European Championships and the World Cup with Spain, he said all those triumphs would pale by comparison to Atletico becoming kings of Europe.
“And this idea can be better with one player compared to another”. We know what Zizou is asking of us and now we have to do it. We have stability, balance, a clear idea of how we work, enormous competence in what we do. “We always look forward, seeking the best solutions”, the Coach said at a Press conference.
“We’re one game away”.
Prediction: Real Madrid is the most successful team in the competition’s history, and Atletico remains the underdog, regardless of how good the team has been this season.
Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane was also relishing the pressure ahead of his biggest game as coach, having only started his senior coaching career five months ago. “He’s notably made the decision to rely a lot on Casemiro, which has changed the team”.
Added Real’s left back Marcelo, “Of course if we don’t get scored on and we manage to score that will be the flawless game for us”.
Real’s other danger man, however, is likely to be Cristiano Ronaldo, who has the chance to match and surpass his own record of scoring 17 Champions League goals in a season.
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Italy is the home of “catenaccio” – lock-down defense – a sometimes painful tactic to watch that relies on tight defense, patience and seizing on counterattack opportunities once the opponent makes a mistake.
