Mr. Enrique Cerezo: “The Cup tie against Espanyol will be very even”
Mr. Clemente Villaverde: “Playing the first leg at home doesn’t matter”
Mr. Enrique Cerezo, President of Club Atlético de Madrid, analysed the Copa del Rey match-up against Espanyol for the Club’s official web page and assured that “at this points of the competition, all of the opponents are difficult and tough. Espanyol already beat us in a Copa del Rey final in Valencia in 2000. They’re a very compact squad. They’ve had a very good start to the season. We’re going to face them three times in less than a month. Both teams know each other well and it will be a very even qualifying tie.”
With respect to the possibility of facing Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, Mr. Enrique explained that “that tie is an extra incentive for us. We really want to break the poor run we’ve had in matches against them. In order to be able to take on Real Madrid, we have to beat Espanyol first.”
For his part, Mr. Clemente Villaverde (Executive of the ‘rojiblanco’ club) broke down the clash against Espanyol and said that “they’re a young team that is having a good season. Playing the first leg at home doesn’t matter, as if we want to make it to the final we have to beat all of the opponents that we face without caring where the fixture is played.”
In the event that Atlético eliminate Espanyol, they would possibly play Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Regarding this possibility, Mr. Clemente Villaverde assured that “it might sound cliché in the world of football, but if we want to make it to the quarterfinals, we’ll have to defeat Espanyol and they’ll have to get past Levante. Although obviously a match-up against Real Madrid is always interesting.”
With respect to the possibility of facing Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, Mr. Enrique explained that “that tie is an extra incentive for us. We really want to break the poor run we’ve had in matches against them. In order to be able to take on Real Madrid, we have to beat Espanyol first.”
For his part, Mr. Clemente Villaverde (Executive of the ‘rojiblanco’ club) broke down the clash against Espanyol and said that “they’re a young team that is having a good season. Playing the first leg at home doesn’t matter, as if we want to make it to the final we have to beat all of the opponents that we face without caring where the fixture is played.”
In the event that Atlético eliminate Espanyol, they would possibly play Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Regarding this possibility, Mr. Clemente Villaverde assured that “it might sound cliché in the world of football, but if we want to make it to the quarterfinals, we’ll have to defeat Espanyol and they’ll have to get past Levante. Although obviously a match-up against Real Madrid is always interesting.”