Filipe Luis: 'We have to take advantage of our good form”
“I’m getting better, but still have lots of room for growth”
Atlético de Madrid left back, Filipe Luis attended to the media after the training session held on Wednesday the 27th. The Brazilian commented on the team’s situation and his sensations after the friendly in Tangiers leading up to the Deportivo fixture in which he’ll face his former team. “The friendly can be distracting because it’s a tough trip. But we’re all professionals and we know that we have to take care of ourselves because we have a tough match coming up, especially because it’s a very short week as we have the game on Saturday. We have to be prepared,” he stated.
Filipe, who knows Deportivo well, analyzed the team and what Atlético might expect against the Galician side. “Deportivo have shown that they’re dangerous at home. All the visiting teams have suffered there, so it’s going to be complicated because they’ve really improved. I don’t think that they’ll have problems avoiding relegation but we’re in good form. We know that we’re going to play well and that the team is playing good football, but it’s going to be touch. You never know what’s going to happen but we have to take advantage of our good form,” he assured.
Personally, the ‘rojiblanco’ fullback appeared satisfied with his current form. “I feel more comfortable and relaxed every day, without any kind of anxiety with the ball. It might be my best form but I still have a lot of room for growth. I feel more comfortable in the squad and with the system every day and I think that’s normal, as everyone takes their own time to adapt. I’ve gotten better at each of the teams I’ve played at, so I still have to improve a lot. I’m not setting a ceiling for myself,” he commented.
In parallel fashion to his personal form, the team is also earning good results. “Our mentality has changed, as we’ve only lost one match since the streak began. When the team decided to really come together, that was the key. They did that last year when they won titles, although I wasn’t here. When the team wants to, it can. We can’t think that we’re a great team and that we don’t need to run. We have to run because when everyone runs, it helps out in defense and you can tell that the team plays much better in attack,” he highlighted.
Recent results have allowed Atlético to climb spots in the table and get into a position that gives access to Europe, but Filipe doesn’t want to look too far ahead, preferring to focus on each game. “Points are points. Whenever you lose points to get further from your goal. We said that Champions League was the goal at the beginning of the season, but we’re realistic and we know that this is really tough because we’re many points behind. First, we want to climb spots match-by-match and then we‘ll see. The important thing is to qualify for a European competition,” he asserted.
Concerning his return to the Riazor Stadium, Filipe emphasized that “it’s going to be very special for me. I have a great relationship with everyone there. I don’t know what the atmosphere will be like but I have great affection for everyone there, and whatever happens I’ll be very happy to play there again. In any case, the most important thing is for the team to bring the three points back to Madrid.”
Filipe, who knows Deportivo well, analyzed the team and what Atlético might expect against the Galician side. “Deportivo have shown that they’re dangerous at home. All the visiting teams have suffered there, so it’s going to be complicated because they’ve really improved. I don’t think that they’ll have problems avoiding relegation but we’re in good form. We know that we’re going to play well and that the team is playing good football, but it’s going to be touch. You never know what’s going to happen but we have to take advantage of our good form,” he assured.
Personally, the ‘rojiblanco’ fullback appeared satisfied with his current form. “I feel more comfortable and relaxed every day, without any kind of anxiety with the ball. It might be my best form but I still have a lot of room for growth. I feel more comfortable in the squad and with the system every day and I think that’s normal, as everyone takes their own time to adapt. I’ve gotten better at each of the teams I’ve played at, so I still have to improve a lot. I’m not setting a ceiling for myself,” he commented.
In parallel fashion to his personal form, the team is also earning good results. “Our mentality has changed, as we’ve only lost one match since the streak began. When the team decided to really come together, that was the key. They did that last year when they won titles, although I wasn’t here. When the team wants to, it can. We can’t think that we’re a great team and that we don’t need to run. We have to run because when everyone runs, it helps out in defense and you can tell that the team plays much better in attack,” he highlighted.
Recent results have allowed Atlético to climb spots in the table and get into a position that gives access to Europe, but Filipe doesn’t want to look too far ahead, preferring to focus on each game. “Points are points. Whenever you lose points to get further from your goal. We said that Champions League was the goal at the beginning of the season, but we’re realistic and we know that this is really tough because we’re many points behind. First, we want to climb spots match-by-match and then we‘ll see. The important thing is to qualify for a European competition,” he asserted.
Concerning his return to the Riazor Stadium, Filipe emphasized that “it’s going to be very special for me. I have a great relationship with everyone there. I don’t know what the atmosphere will be like but I have great affection for everyone there, and whatever happens I’ll be very happy to play there again. In any case, the most important thing is for the team to bring the three points back to Madrid.”