"The team is in very good shape, we’re eager"

Four days from the cup final against Real Madrid, Atletico players are focused and prepared to approach the game with real enthusiasm. During this week all the players will pass through the press room at the Majadahonda Sports City giving their impressions before the big game at the Bernabeu. On Monday it was the turn of Mario Suarez and Luis Filipe.

The Brazilian left-back assures that in his head he can only see a victory "We have all week to work the whole group and the coach will tell us what he wants but we know the importance of this game and what it represents for us all. I prepare in a special way."

Filipe does not think that Real Madrid are favourites due to the fact they’re playing in their own stadium, as the atmosphere inside the Santiago Bernabeu will be very divided between Atletico and Real Madrid. "There can be no excuses, it is a final and no team has home advantage. They may be more comfortable because they know the field but the fans will be divided and in a game like this anything can happen. A final is a final, it’s not a normal game. The whole world is watching the game and I think that in the end no one is saved anything because it is a special game that we want to win for our fans," he said.

It is a special game and something spectacular for the history and rivalry between the two clubs

 Regarding the losing streak that Atletico Madrid have against Real Madrid, the Brazilian player said that a final is a different game and, therefore, the statistics don’t matter in these games. "Atletico is and always has been a cup team, the statistics are what they are, but to reach the final and win you have to win every game and we want to do that on Friday. As I said, it is a special game and something spectacular for the history and rivalry between the two clubs".

The left back assessed Real Madrid before the match and played down off the field issues. For him, Real Madrid is a very difficult team but warns that they fight for the same goal. "They have a great team, both physically and tactically and are strong-minded. The psychological factor does not affect much because every game is different”. When asked who he thought the favoute was, he said "We're going to play to win. We have not always lost against Madrid, we have also drawn. I think this run will change. Although they are labelled as favourites, we know it will be an even game and decided by small details. It is a 90-minute game that has nothing to do what has gone before."

Mario Suarez underlines the enthusiasm and the desire the whole team have to contest the final of Cup: "In a final it does not matter what you did before, everything is forgotten and the focus is on those ninety minutes. The team is in very good shape and we’re all excited."

It’s a final, you don’t feel pain or discomfort or tiredness

 The Atletico midfielder emphasizes concentration is the recipe for success previous finals. "We showed that we can play finals and we have big games. We know that mistakes are very expensive. If we are focused one hundred and ten percent for the 90 minutes we will a good chance to win."

"In a final you don’t feel pain or discomfort or tiredness. It’s ninety minutes in which you play for a very important title for the fans and the club. Everyone is very excited and we're going out to win. We have to play a perfect game to win" says Mario.

The youth know that the support of the fans will be important and they will be well supported at the Bernabeu: "The Copa del Rey final is the biggest game of the year in Spain. Also we play in the opponents field, with half of it full of our fans. We know that if it was just for the fans we’d win the game easily."

Mario Suarez says they’ll play with respect and without fear: "We know they are favorites, but it is a game we can win. As I said, we have shown that we can play in finals, we know we will compete and go after them with respect, without fear".

"We know that we can not leave Real Madrid spaces because they will cause a lot of damage on the counter. You have to minimize errors. The team who makes the fewest mistakes will be the winner. You have to be mentally prepared and controlled from the first minute," he said to finish.