Fran Mérida: “We’re going to show face and are convinced of winning in Barcelona”
“Returning to Camp Nou is special but I won’t have any friends for 90 minutes”
Fran Mérida was the player in charge of attending to the press two days before the match against Barcelona at Camp Nou. The Catalan midfielder returns to the place where he started out as a footballer and from which he left to play at Arsenal, the team from which Atlético signed him.
The ‘rojiblanco’ footballer was sincere about what Atlético de Madrid is playing for in this game. “We’re coming off a few tough weeks, but the squad is trying to overcome that. The next step is to show face against Barcelona and we’re going convinced of winning. That’s clear to us.”
Concerning what the formula might be to beat Barcelona in their stadium, Mérida stated that “the gaffer is passing on his ideas to us. We know that Barça is strong at home, playing at a high level, but we have our weapons, a great squad with great players, and we go out to win each match. And we’re going to do the same thing at the Nou Camp. The team is mentally aware that if we want to beat Barça that we have to play very well in back, make sure they’re not comfortable and feel pressured, and that every one of their players is constantly pressured by two of our players nipping at them. And as we’ve shown, we have the resources to score goals in any stadium.”
He doesn’t think that playing at Camp Nou is a problem, even though many teams have been driven away from that stadium with crushing defeats. “Playing in a stadium like Camp Nou is never a drag. It’s another match like the rest, it’s eleven-on-eleven and we’re capable of competing.”
As he came out of La Masía (Barça’s junior academy), he was asked who on their current roster he would single out. The Catalan footballer responded that “Barça is a spectacular team with a spectacular, world-champion calibre team. I could say so many good things about them that we wouldn’t have time to list them. We know that Barça is a great team, but so are we. Atlético, wherever we go to play, put on the jersey to win.”
He highlighted the job being done by Pep Guardiola at the helm of the ‘blaugrana’ side. “I like Guardiola’s philosophy. Barcelona are showing that they’re a great squad and make us enjoy what we’re seeing from afar, but we have to go there focused on counteracting their play. I’m convinced that we’re going to go out and try to beat them.”
With respect to the situation that the team is currently going through and if he expected to get more minutes, the Atlético ‘11’ was honest. “We’re at a time in which we need to think more about the team than the individual. Now, more than ever, we have to stick together. I’m very comfortable here, happy and working hard. I’m trying to take advantage of the minutes I get. Now we have to leave the individual part on the side and support the squad and move this situation forward.”
Regarding the team’s mental state, Fran Mérida commented that “the team is fine; we’re trying to find where we’ve made mistakes. The most important thing is that we’re united and can bring this forward. I see the team as having a strong desire to earn three points and get ourselves out of this situation.”
He’s returning to his former home, so it must be a different game for Mérida. “I was at Barça for eight years and I have great memories. I’m appreciative of Barcelona for my time there because they taught me a lot, raised me and I have a lot of friends there. It’s a special place, but I won’t have any friends for 90 minutes. Returning home and to Camp Nous is always special.”
He’s convinced that everything could change with a victory against Barcelona. “We know that a win and, even more so against an opponent like Barça, would really boost our confidence. We have to go game-to-game. We want to change and why can’t it be the day against Barcelona? Hopefully we can get our best play back, earn three points, and try to look up.”
To finish, Mérida sent a message to those who don’t believe in Atlético de Madrid’s chances. “People here are involved one-hundred percent. Perhaps we didn’t play as well as we’re capable of in Gijón. And we’re the first ones who are conscious of that. But there’s no doubt that everyone, squad, coaching staff, etc., are focused on getting this shirt where it deserves to be: in Champions League.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ footballer was sincere about what Atlético de Madrid is playing for in this game. “We’re coming off a few tough weeks, but the squad is trying to overcome that. The next step is to show face against Barcelona and we’re going convinced of winning. That’s clear to us.”
Concerning what the formula might be to beat Barcelona in their stadium, Mérida stated that “the gaffer is passing on his ideas to us. We know that Barça is strong at home, playing at a high level, but we have our weapons, a great squad with great players, and we go out to win each match. And we’re going to do the same thing at the Nou Camp. The team is mentally aware that if we want to beat Barça that we have to play very well in back, make sure they’re not comfortable and feel pressured, and that every one of their players is constantly pressured by two of our players nipping at them. And as we’ve shown, we have the resources to score goals in any stadium.”
He doesn’t think that playing at Camp Nou is a problem, even though many teams have been driven away from that stadium with crushing defeats. “Playing in a stadium like Camp Nou is never a drag. It’s another match like the rest, it’s eleven-on-eleven and we’re capable of competing.”
As he came out of La Masía (Barça’s junior academy), he was asked who on their current roster he would single out. The Catalan footballer responded that “Barça is a spectacular team with a spectacular, world-champion calibre team. I could say so many good things about them that we wouldn’t have time to list them. We know that Barça is a great team, but so are we. Atlético, wherever we go to play, put on the jersey to win.”
He highlighted the job being done by Pep Guardiola at the helm of the ‘blaugrana’ side. “I like Guardiola’s philosophy. Barcelona are showing that they’re a great squad and make us enjoy what we’re seeing from afar, but we have to go there focused on counteracting their play. I’m convinced that we’re going to go out and try to beat them.”
With respect to the situation that the team is currently going through and if he expected to get more minutes, the Atlético ‘11’ was honest. “We’re at a time in which we need to think more about the team than the individual. Now, more than ever, we have to stick together. I’m very comfortable here, happy and working hard. I’m trying to take advantage of the minutes I get. Now we have to leave the individual part on the side and support the squad and move this situation forward.”
Regarding the team’s mental state, Fran Mérida commented that “the team is fine; we’re trying to find where we’ve made mistakes. The most important thing is that we’re united and can bring this forward. I see the team as having a strong desire to earn three points and get ourselves out of this situation.”
He’s returning to his former home, so it must be a different game for Mérida. “I was at Barça for eight years and I have great memories. I’m appreciative of Barcelona for my time there because they taught me a lot, raised me and I have a lot of friends there. It’s a special place, but I won’t have any friends for 90 minutes. Returning home and to Camp Nous is always special.”
He’s convinced that everything could change with a victory against Barcelona. “We know that a win and, even more so against an opponent like Barça, would really boost our confidence. We have to go game-to-game. We want to change and why can’t it be the day against Barcelona? Hopefully we can get our best play back, earn three points, and try to look up.”
To finish, Mérida sent a message to those who don’t believe in Atlético de Madrid’s chances. “People here are involved one-hundred percent. Perhaps we didn’t play as well as we’re capable of in Gijón. And we’re the first ones who are conscious of that. But there’s no doubt that everyone, squad, coaching staff, etc., are focused on getting this shirt where it deserves to be: in Champions League.”
