GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Atletico's Forlan unruffled by Atletico's 14-year drought

Record ID: 1526813

  • Title: GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Atletico's Forlan unruffled by Atletico's 14-year drought
  • Date: 12th May 2010
  • Summary: ATLETICO MADRID DEFENDER JUAN VALERA, MIDFIELDER RAUL GARCIA AND DEFENDER ALVARO DOMINGUEZ GOAL BEING SCORED PLAYERS RUNNING IN GROUP AROUND PITCH
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2010 01:38
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVAEK48QTRB3C1IUFV8D9WBGE7BY
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Atletico Madrid's striker Diego Forlan said his club's long wait for a trophy would not prey on his mind in Wednesday's (May 12) Europa League final against Fulham.
    Atletico won their last silverware in 1996 when they landed a league and cup double in Spain. Since then, they have employed 12 coaches, spent two seasons in the second division and endured several more years of mid-table mediocrity.
    "It must go well and we intend on winning and becoming champions," the Uruguayan striker told reporters before a training session in the German city of Hamburg, adding that the team had worked hard in the season despite having had both good and bad moments.
    Hopes are high that Forlan will be able to push the team to victory after scoring both Atletico's goals in the two-leg semi-final against Liverpool.
    This season initially appeared set to dish up more of the same for the Madrid side who were in the relegation mire and made a quick exit from the Champions League.
    But fortunes turned when Quique Sanchez Flores was appointed coach in October and they could finish with two trophies if they win on Wednesday (May 12) and beat Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final next week.
    "It is a responsibility to play well and whatever happens you have to accept this. We want to seize the opportunity and tomorrow we want to play as we have throughout the tournament. We have to be on top form," Flores told reporters.
    Team captain Antonio Lopez, who has spent all but two years of his career at the club, said it was important not to be overly confident going into such a high profile match.
    "When you wear this jersey you want to win. But first you have to play at least 90 minutes. You must never underestimate the opposition. You should never go into it thinking you are going to win but what you have to do is be as concentrated as possible," he said.
    Atletico Madrid will take on Fulham in Hamburg at 1845GMT on Wednesday (May 12).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register