"Being an Atleti player is the greatest thing that can happen"

- What is your best memory of Atletico?
"I believe that the eight years I spent here were all very good and I have great memories of them. If I had to highlight one, it would be the conquest of the Intercontinental or the league we got. It is difficult to pick one out over another overall I think the eight years at Atletico Madrid were special for me."

- Which period in the club's history would you choose as the best?
"Atletico is a club full of important moments. Metropolitan with the move to the Vicente Calderon, the number of fans increased significantly. Regarding titles, the Cup Winners' Cup, the year of the double with League and Cup and lately the success of the team with Simeone in charge winning the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup and the Europa League."

- Which current player would you identify with?
"It is difficult to identify with someone in this squad because football has changed a lot from my time to the present. Now everything is much more professional than before and the tactics have also changed. I was an attacking midfielder similar to Koke although I can not compare with the way he plays because we are different".

- What did you take from your time as a player at the club?
"What I miss is the youth and playing, being a football player, to be in this club is the nicest thing that can happen. I miss the enthusiasm and passion of the fans when I looked out on the pitch. I miss that time when every three years Atleico were League champions not like now where Barcelona and Real Madrid monopolize all the attention".

- What differences among the current Atletico players do you see from your professional days?
"This Atlético has many roots that are transferred from our time. Were a very seasoned team with a strong defense, with speed and play well on the counter, very similar to current Atletico. From my point of view I think Simeone has managed to impose this philosophy and even I think he has improved it. Nevertheless, I have to insist that you can not compare football with before because the pitches were worse, the balls and the boots were very different, food...Everything is much more professional and now football is more professional."

- In the history of the club , what role does the academy play?
"The academy has always given great results. It's always brought up players who have gone on to integrate into the first team. Atletico had moments of difficulty with the academy but today it is working very well with important values that people feel manifests as Atletico Madrid players, as can be the case a few years Fernando Torres or Óliver Torres today".

- What can this current team achive in the current season?
"I think we can finish the top. From my point of view, Atletico is competing very well, they are very close to the leader at this time. If injuries do not prey on the team I think they will do well. Simeone is handling the team very well in both Champions League and the League, where they have already qualified with just four games and I think that Atletico can achieve great things because it is in a very good position and above all, because the team is very reliable".

- Is Simeone the ideal Atletico Madrid coach?
"Without a doubt yes. Has the values that this club has always had, he has experienced here very important things with Atletico and he is now leading the team to its best."

- What steps should the club follow to continue to grow?
"I think that Atletico should keep going in the same direction, work hard because that will allow them to consolidated with most leading teams around the world."

- As an Atletico, what dream as you would like it to become a reality in the short term.
I would love to be champions of Europe. We were close to getting in the final against Bayern and I hope these players will achieve it."