Atletico Madrid Chief Hopes for Mbappe’s Presence in Super Cup Derby

As the Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid approaches, Atletico president Enrique Cerezo shared his views on the upcoming derby.

Speaking ahead of the high-profile clash, Cerezo reflected on previous encounters and the current challenges both teams face, offering insights into what the match means for Atletico Madrid.

Looking back at Atletico’s commanding 5-2 victory over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano earlier this season, Cerezo cautioned against reading too much into that result.

“Every derby is different, especially in a two-leg competition like this. It’ll be a good game,” he said, according to AS.

He also highlighted the significance of the Super Cup for Atletico, especially after an inconsistent league campaign.

“It means getting back on track after a league season where we’ve been all over the place… Getting back on track and aiming to win titles.”

When asked about his expectations for the match, Cerezo expressed optimism.

“We’re going to play a great game and we’re going to go out there to win, as always. Another thing is that we need that little bit of luck that we’ve been lacking at other times…”

The Atletico president also spoke about the absence of Kylian Mbappe, who will miss the game due to injury.

“I prefer the best players to play. It’s a shame that Mbappe could not come because he’s injured. I would have loved for him to play.”

Finally, Cerezo commented on the contrasting managerial situations at the two clubs.

While Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso is still establishing himself in his first season, Atletico’s Diego Simeone has been at the helm for 14 years.

“We have him because he’s very good, because he does very well, he gives us titles, victories, and above all, we love him. In football, whenever there’s a dismissal, it’s bad, but that’s life,” he concluded.