Filipe Luis believes that this Atletico Madrid team are the best side he has played for, but that even a win on Saturday won’t see them aiming for the title.
The former Deportivo full-back [pictured, right] was talking ahead of his team’s trip across town to face Real Madrid. Atleti go into that match second in the table, eight points ahead of their rivals.
“At a collective level this team is the best. It is the most committed team I have ever found. Not only with the starting XI, but the entire workforce,” the full-back told Onda Cero.
“It is very hard to find a team that has just won something and maintains their ambition and the will to win. I’m in love with this club.
“I’m excited by the start we made, but we must keep our feet on the ground. Last year, Real Madrid managed 100 points and broke all the records that we had set in the 1950s. We must go slowly with our feet on the ground.”
The Brazilian followed that thought with the admittance that even a win at the weekend would not stop the team from focusing only on the following week’s match.
“We want to win. We hope that it is 0-1 and is cagey. We want to stay ahead and keep picking up points, but even if we win at the Bernabeu you cannot say that we will be aiming for the title, we would just think about the next game, in this case against Deportivo.
“There are only three points here, but the game is not like any other. It is very special not only for the players, but also for the fans. It is a game that they want to see and enjoy.
“The dream is very special. We go into the game at a great time, in a good physical state and with great belief in what we are doing, but, Real Madrid’s budget is vastly superior to ours and they are the current champions.”
The 27-year-old spent one season earlier in his career on loan at Real Madrid’s Castilla side.
“I do not feel like I am playing against a former team. I played for Castilla, not the first team.
“I cannot include myself in the list of those that were made by the Castilla, I did not grow up in Real Madrid’s youth system.
“I went through there, I spent a year there and then went, it was a like a formality when I came to Spain. It helped me a lot and I am grateful, but I do not think I missed out on a chance to make the first team there.”
