Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo believes it’s time the Champions League treated his club well after two traumatic experiences.
Los Colchoneros have twice reached the Final, back in 1974 against Bayern Munich when a late equaliser by the Germans took the game to a replay, which Atleti lost, and 2014, when Sergio Ramos levelled late on and Real Madrid won in extra time.
“The Champions League owes us one,” Cerezo told Al Primer Toque, AS reports, prior to the Barcelona-Atletico Champions League quarter-final first leg.
“It’s a pain that in two Finals we’ve been left speechless in the last minutes. We hope to collect someday and it isn’t too late.
“We go to Barca with great enthusiasm. They’re one of the best teams in the world, if not the best. It’s going to be a tough match, we’re not mislead about that.
“At the moment, we know the great advantage is that we start at 0-0. It’s going to be a beautiful game, with goals, emotion amazing results…
“Our objectives? To be runners-up in the League and finalists in the Champions League.”
Atletico’s Vicente Calderon will host Barca and Sevilla in the Copa del Rey Final, a prestigious honour, according to Cerezo.
“It’s the best night of Spanish football. If you don’t get to the Final, the best compensation you can have is that it is played on your pitch,” he continued.
“The Cup Final gives you prestige. All the world know your stadium and the winners say they won it there.”
