Diego Godin has compared beating Real Madrid to winning a Cup final after Atletico Madrid pegged back the League leaders.
The champions hammered Los Blancos, winning 4-0, and cut the gap to four points – rather than the 10 it would have been had Carlo Ancelotti’s side been victorious.
Speaking on Fox Sports Radio in Uruguay, Godin reflected on the importance of the result.
“We all knew thought it. It was a final, we knew if we lost Madrid would be 10 points clear,” he said, AS reports.
“We knew what we had to do. We had to work during the week to try and hurt Madrid. Playing at Vicente Calderon with our people was a plus, our stadium, which isn’t in perfect condition but I think for that game it was in our favour.
“The truth is everyone came out [for the match]. They did what [Diego Simeone] asked. And did it very well. We are three and four points behind Barcelona and Madrid, who still have to play each other.
“Madrid respected us and didn’t play with the confidence they had before and it showed on the pitch. But we did a lot of work and obviously not all games go the same way.
“They know we played them as equals, on par, and we beat them.”
Godin, who will wear a protective face mask for the foreseeable future, after fracturing his nose in the derby, concluded by comparing Atletico and the Uruguay national team.
“We are a close team, a great group,” he noted.
“There are wonderful people in the locker room and we get along well. That’s crucial to compete. We’re all committed.”