Godín: “The qualifying round is going to be extremely hard, very difficult”

The Uruguayan Diego Godín had a leading role in the newsroom the day after the victory against Athletic Club. The Atlético player talked of the next challenge Simeone’s team faces, the first leg of the Champions quarter final against Barcelona FC. “The qualifying round is going to be extremely hard because of the rival, of course”, he said. The midfield emphasised that it’s going to be “different to the Super Cup because it’s happening at a different moment in time. Back then, the season was starting and we’re almost ending it now. Both teams have been through a lot”.

Godín emphasised to the media the enormous confidence with which the team reached this moment of the season. “We don’t feel less than anyone, never that. We know our strengths and the path to follow to win the game”. On the other hand, the Atlético player highlighted that “if you look at the qualifying round the clear favourite is Barcelona FC. But we know our weapons and we know that with our weapons we can hurt them very much”.

“We feel very confident of the road we have to take to win the matched with these great teams” highlighted Godín. To this, the Atlético player added, “we haven’t changed the way we play in two and a half years. The performance keeps getting better. The team is the key to this Atlético de Madrids success”.

For Diego Godín this qualifying round comes at a time where the team is feeling “very hopeful, very eager and on top from physically, we keep showing it”. “That’s what’s important, be physically well, with very high spirits, very confident. Obviously, there are difficult games ahead. It’s going to be a hard qualifying round with a lot of physical wear, but it’s the same we have had all year round playing every three or four days. We’re surely going to keep fighting until the end”, he added.

Diego Costa is our soul, a player that gives us everything

 The Uruguayan was also asked about the shape his teammate Diego Costa is in, to which he answered, “he keeps growing. He still hasn’t found his limit because he grows daily, match-by-match. It’s amazing”. The Atlético defence stressed the importance he has in the team’s blueprint. “For us, he’s our soul, a player that gives us everything. Sometimes things aren’t happening and he can open the match with his strength, with his technique, with everything he has”.

Lastly, Godín talked about the rival in this Champions’ quarter-final. “Barcelona FC. has many strengths. It’s true that in the last moments it was said that their game was uncertain, but they are there, in the Champions’ quarter-final, in the Cup final, fighting for the League”. To this he added that, “They are at a great time now, very confident after winning the derby. All the players have a great quality and as a team, they have been playing many years together and doing it well. They know each other very well”.