Marcos Llorente: «Atlético weren’t owed Champions, life owes you nothing» | OneFootball

IMPORTANT COMEBACK AGAINST ATHLETIC

“It’s always important in games like these to have done a great job in the previous ones, with a good result, because it gives you energy and confidence. Winning Saturday’s match, which we started off losing, was important. There’s not much more to say, it’s time to enjoy it, to value the situation we’re in, a Champions League semi-final. The team is ready.”

HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH ZUBIMENDI?

“No. In the Champions League you come up against top-class opponents, and this time it’s Arsenal, but in the group stage or the knockout rounds there are outstanding footballers everywhere. I’ll be happy to see him because he’s my teammate in the national team, like Mikel or David, but it’s something we’re used to.”

DO YOU FEEL ANY SPECIAL PRESSURE?

“These are such difficult knockout ties that you have to be at your best. The first match has a huge impact on the tie, so you have to manage the pressure, the stress, and be a ten out of ten football-wise. Against opponents of this level, you have to be very good, almost perfect.”

DOES THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OWE ATLÉTICO?

“I don’t feel that Atlético is owed a Champions League title; football and life don’t owe you anything. We’re approaching it for what it is: a semi-final, with the chance to reach the final. It’s beautiful how all the fans come together for matches like this.”

HOW DO YOU VISUALIZE THE MATCH?

“I’m probably the player who visualizes and thinks the least about matches beforehand; it’s my way of concentrating. Until the team talk, I’m not really one to think about it. I’m clear on things, my strengths and weaknesses, I know myself very well. I try not to go crazy, because it’s a crucial match. It’s all about balance.”

WITHOUT THE FAVORITES TAG

“I don’t care, whether we’re favorites or not. I understand it because I think Arsenal haven’t lost in the Champions League, but so many things happen in football that it stopped mattering to me a long time ago.”

JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ AND HIS IMPORTANCE

“He’s fundamental for us, and he’s shown it with important goals. What he brings is that authority, the way he helps us play, the way he fights despite being a striker, that energy he passes on. He’s key for us. Hopefully he can produce his best version.”

DOES THIS TEAM ATTACK BETTER THAN IT DEFENDS?

“I see it the way Simeone does.”

MESSAGE TO PABLO BARRIOS

“We’re sad because we know how much you suffer when you get injured. You spend months on your own, working, while the team goes one way and you go another. They’re difficult moments. He’s young, he’ll learn a lot from this, about his body, his feelings, and he’ll be thinking a lot about why this happened to him. He’s a true professional, I know his habits. So many things have an impact: stress, childhood, rest, nutrition, love, family… It’s difficult, you drive yourself crazy wondering why this injury happened. We want to send him our support; he’s a key part of the team. It hurts us a lot because important matches are coming up and he brings so much. I hope he can get to know himself even better.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.