Realmadrid News

Coaching the derby "This match is very important for both teams"

Can you shed some light on the Emerson controversy?

CAPELLO
It has nothing to do with sport. I will only talk about Saturday's match. Emerson's behaviour was not an act of insubordination. He is a player on this team and I count on him. What people are saying about him refusing to play is a lie. I have nothing to clarify. He did not refuse to play.

Have you received a lot of support for the match?
We've got a renewed sense of confidence after Tuesday's win.

Which team is favourite, or are both coming in on a level playing field?
AGUIRRE
I can't comment because I wasn't here. Were are three points behind Real Madrid, thus it's an important match because we want to catch up with them. They are three crucial points. This isn't our best patch this season and, although we're coming off a big defeat, we really want to redeem ourselves.

CAPELLO
We played two good games this week. The derby is always unique and you never know what may happen. Let's hope we can continue this good string of results.

What concerns you the most about your opponent?
AGUIRRE
Real Madrid always overcome adversity. They've received a lot of criticism but they are still in the hunt for the Champions League and the League title. They have excellent players and a great coach.
CAPELLO
I've always liked Atletico's ambition. They've always won when they've had good players and they get really fired up when they play against Real Madrid.

Reyes said the team is too defensive minded.

CAPELLO
He told me this morning that he said nothing of the sort.

Is this match really that important?
AGUIRRE
For us it's very important because we didn't perform well against two Champions League participants in the second half of the season. We can't let this third chance slip through our fingers because we really want to qualify for a spot in European competition.
CAPELLO
Every match counts, especially those between the top teams in the table. We're four points off the leaders. Although we've slipped up at home, there's a lot of League to be played still. Whoever wins will get a huge morale boost.

Do you feel that your job is on the line?
CAPELLO
It's only a game.

What centre midfielders are you going to line up on Saturday?
CAPELLO
It depends on how fit each player is. Gago and Guti are fine to play together. Before, I played Diarra and Emerson together in the midfield because I thought it would work out.
AGUIRRE
I have four very talented midfielders, three of whom played the first time we met this season.

You've won four straight matches at the Calderón.
AGUIRRE
I'm under the impression that we're more confident playing at home. We've got the fourth or fifth best home record in the League, although we have struggled on occasion. I hope we keep the streak alive with a win on Saturday.

Are Real Madrid in better form this time around?
AGUIRRE
We had to take Guit, as well as the rest of the team out in our previous match. Now we have to figure out what's in our best interests. We have to unfurl our game and destroy their's. These are different players and different circumstances now.
Do you already know who you're going to start?
CAPELLO
It all depends on the players. Right now, we've got some problems with some, but tomorrow's a new day. I realy liked my team's attitude in the first half of the Bayern match. We must never underestimate our opponent. We can never control a match from beginning to end.

Are you worried your team might get restless being that they haven't defeated Real Madrid in such a long time?

AGUIRRE
Stats are meant to be broken. I can't dwell on the past. We can only think about the present. Three points are at stake and we only have ninety minutes to claim them.


Report by Luis Navarro
Photography by Daniel Sastre
Translation by Matthew Goltz & Michael J. O'Donnell

posted by khalidmrrakchi@hotmail.com @ 2:19 PM