Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez has admitted that nobody would have wanted to draw Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Atleti face a tie with their cross-city rivals in the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition, yet while Mario admits it was not the best pairing his team could have hoped for he is still looking forward to it.
“Madrid are a great team and they are on an upward path at the moment,” commented the 28-year-old in an interview with ‘El Partido de las 12’.
“Nobody wanted to come across them but it’s a very good tie. We’ll be going all out to win both games because neither of us will want a draw.
“There will be a lot of intensity. It’s a derby in the best club competition in the world and there is a great rivalry between us at the moment. I recommend that everybody watches it.
“For us the past and the final [against Real Madrid in Lisbon] does not count. It’s just a memory that’s there. It hurt a lot but we learnt from it.
“We are fighting, and will continue fighting, to be among the best in Europe.”
Mario also commented on the news that boss Diego Simeone is set to extend his contract at the club until 2020.
“For everyone at Atletico Madrid it’s great news and better still that he is doing it right now. Simeone is the best Coach I’ve ever played under.
“It’s great he is going to continue at the club, whether I am there or not,” said Mario, who has been constantly linked with a move away from the Vicente Calderon this season.
