Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo says the club ‘want to annoy people’ and discussed Diego Simeone’s future and Diego Costa’s return.
Cerezo told an interview with the Daily Mail ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg with Barcelona that the intention is to upset the status quo in Europe, as they have domestically.
“We want to get to the last four and annoy people in the Champions League just like we are doing in La Liga,” Cerezo said, before reflecting on the 2014 final, lost in extra time to Real Madrid.
“When the board went up for five minutes of injury time I was convinced we had done it. You would never believe they would score in the last minute,” he recalled.
“But then you would never believe that same season we would go to Camp Nou and get a draw on the last day to win the League.”
Such success has led to speculation Simeone will move on but Cerezo isn’t concerned at the prospect of losing the Coach.
“There is no expiry date. He signed for another five years last summer and if both sides are happy – and I think they are – there is no need to think the situation is going to change. When this contract ends we will ask him to renew and I think he will,” he added.
“He was a great player for us. When the team were losing he would pick up the ball in the middle of the pitch, drive forward and get everyone out of their seat. Football is his life and his passion.”
Cerezo also repeated past comments regarding Diego Costa, who he says he would welcome back to Vicente Calderon, even though it would be a difficult operation to close.
“I think it’s difficult but as far as we are concerned we would love it if he came back here,” he said regarding the Chelsea striker.
“We have a magnificent relationship with all ex-coaches and players. I went to see Simeone in Argentina when he was at River Plate. That is the way it is with Costa.
“Whether he can come back or not is another thing but the relationship has always been fantastic. He is OK because he is at a good club. I don’t know whether they will be in the Champions League this year.”
