Jorge Resurreccion, Koke, has reflected on Atletico Madrid’s start to the 2012-13 season and outlined their ambitions in both cup competitions.
Atleti are currently second in La Liga after a strong start to the season and as Koke has reflected, confidence going into 2013 is high.
“The feeling is really good. We are second in the League and we’ve got a lot of points, which is important,” the youngster told UEFA’s official website today.
“We are playing out a spectacular League and we are all thinking about it game by game, something that we are doing very well.
“Can we keep up with Barca? I think it will be very difficult. Barca are spectacular, I think that this Barca is the best in the world.
“It is true that every game is different and that the League is very long, but we are aware that catching them is very difficult.
“We have to go game by game and see where we end up at the end of the season, but our aim is to enter the Champions League. That’s our goal and from there we can see how far we can go. I aim to finish as high as possible.”
The attacker was asked of Atleti’s Europa League campaign so far and of their hopes in retaining the title this year.
“Overall the group stages were great because we have qualified. It is a shame that we did not finish first, but I think that the team has worked very well and we have achieved what we wanted to, to advance to the next round. Our intention was to finish top of the group, but the key was to get through.
“Can we get to another final? We know that it will be very difficult, but not impossible. Now we have to take each game as they come regardless of who we face in the round.
“We hope to reach the final, to win the Cup back again. Playing in Europe is very nice, especially for the fact of travelling to other countries to play the games.”
So far Coach Diego Simeone has employed a rotation policy with the squad for the Europa League, but Koke has not seen this as negative.
“It has been great, we are all motivated and no-one is complacent. We know that at any time we can be replaced in any field. For the group it is important that everyone has minutes.”
Atletico are also on the verge of reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, after a 3-0 first leg Last 16 win over Getafe.
“We are aware that on the other side of the draw are Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are right now the best teams in the world.
“But, Atletico will go for the competition like they always have, because it is a special tournament. It’s really important.”
