By beating holders Liverpool in the Champions League last-16, Atletico Madrid have proven that they vat nie k@k nie, according to midfielder Koke.
And despite having to deal with the shock of players Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko testing positive for the coronavirus ahead of tonight’s quarterfinal against RB Leipzig, the squad is still in high spirits.
Koke explains: “Beating the champions raises your confidence but we know no-one will make things easy for us and we have to continue as we were after lockdown.”
In top form with seven wins in 11 matches since football’s restart and with the champions already slain, Atletico will also be hopeful now that neighbours Real Madrid are out.
Zinedine Zidane’s men beat them twice in the final of this tournament in 2014 and 2016 and Koke believes this is their best shot at glory.
He adds: “I have lost two finals. But when you lose you are hungrier than ever when you go again, and I’m more determined than ever to win the Champions League.
“We have a beautiful opportunity to win this trophy if we do things the right way.”
Minus talisman Timo Werner, who joined Chelsea, Leipzig are still dreaming big. And according to Koke’s countryman Dani Olmo, they can surprise favourites Atletico.
Olmo says: “This is a very different Champions League, which we hope will never be repeated again.
“But all of us are just three games away from being champions and there is no team that is going to win it without going out to play.
“And this format, a single game, can bring beautiful surprises.”
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