Enrique Cerezo claims Atletico Madrid have assembled “our best side in years”, while Diego Simeone, Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann can stay for life.
Los Colchoneros pipped Real Madrid and Barcelona to La Liga supremacy in 2014 – their first triumph in some 18 years – but the President believes the team put together for this season has the potential to do even better.
“[On Miguel San Roman’s death], he was a great person, a great player and someone who always had the club close to his heart,” he told Radio MARCA.
“[On the boos], we have a great set of fans, who are demanding. I don’t see any issue [with their boos]. It’s something I’ve seen before.
“We’re in a magnificent sporting situation and the more the season progresses, the better we’ll be.
“[On the Clasico], a draw would benefit Atleti. We have our best team in years.
“In a few years, they’ll talk about these players in the same manner as [Atleti legends] Leivinha and [Luis] Pereira.
“[On Antoine Griezmann], I reckon he’ll be here for another 10 years.
“[Radamel Falcao] has been unlucky. He felt Monaco were a good choice but got injured and lost a year. That’s tough for any footballer.
“[On Fernando Torres’ contract expiring in the summer], he’s an Atletico Madrid player and a club icon.
“When the season’s over, we’ll see what he wants to do. There are no problems with Torres.
“[Diego Simeone] will be at Atletico Madrid for as long as he wants.
“The fans recognise the efforts made by the club in the last 10-12 years to place us in the position we’re in now.
“[On former goalkeeper David de Gea’s potential move to Real Madrid], De Gea seemingly thought Madrid could give him more than [United].
“[Sergio] Aguero, [Diego] Forlan … it’s always been like this but none [of our former players] have ended up at Madrid.
“[On trophies] the Champions League or La Liga? Both. It’s normal that we’re fighting to the death for the League, Champions League and Copa del Rey.
“The great success of [Atleti and Madrid in the 2014 CL final] was the great atmosphere between the two teams.
“[The CL] is something the players and Coach want, and if they want something, they’ll surely get it.
“I’m sure there won’t be any dealings in the winter [barring Matias Kranevitter]. We already have a great squad.
“[LFP President Javier Tebas] is a doing a lot for La Liga, but it’s a problem that doesn’t get along with important footballing institutions.
“I’d like the RFEF, LFP and CSD to, at least, share a fluid dialogue.
“It’d be a long time before we found a better President than [RFEF chier Angel Maria] Villar.
“I’d rather have him as the RFEF Preisdent, but it’d be great to have a Spaniard chairing FIFA or UEFA.
“[On Gerard Pique], he has to show the respect the fans deserve in order to earn theirs.”
