Top 85 Atletico Quotes & Sayings - Page 2

Both Atletico and Real Madrid called my dad, but at that time, I wasn't doing too well at school, and they wouldn't let me go until my grades improved. They both called back, and since Atleti was closer to home, I joined their football academy. It was the start of a period where I stopped enjoying football - I lost the love for it.

When I was talking with Shanghai, I was talking to big clubs from Europe, as well. There was Atletico Madrid, who I almost joined. I liked them very much and what they were offering me at the time. There was also Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. I had some options.

With Tenerife, we had to fight in the most difficult second division in Spain with Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, and Real Betis, and we were promoted. I know you have to fight until the last day. We were promoted in the last game.

I remember people saying that Atletico wanted me, that they are a big team, and that it will be a big challenge for me. I don't know why, but I just felt really prepared for it, really confident. I went there and tried to do my best in training as well as learn the language really quickly. That was important, I think.

When I moved from Independiente to Atletico Madrid, I was only 18, and I found it hard to adapt. But what surprised me most about moving to England was how fast the game was. I like it, but it is so quick.

On Conte's first day, I told him that I wanted to join Atletico, and he was upset with me and didn't even look at me. Luckily, I started to score goals.

At Ajax, I got an education in how to be confident on the ball, my technique, and then, at Atletico, I learned how to defend. It was about the details, the ruthlessness; be clinical in front of your own goal, win every duel, be clever. I learned so much and, defensively, I grew there so much.

When Atletico wanted to sell me, I was told that I earned too much money and they wanted me off the wage bill. I liked that honesty.

People might talk more about Real Madrid and Barcelona than about Atletico, but what matters to me is what happens on the pitch. We compete with them year after year. I am not interested about the club's reputation.

Liverpool is a massive club in reputation, but as soon as I came here, it felt like Atletico to me. It is a working city, an honest city. The people work all week, and on Saturday they want to go to Anfield and watch the best team in the world.

It is all right having Atletico Madrid and Barca at the top, but what about teams like Tenerife who play on such bad pitches? These little things need to improve, but media-wise, Spanish women's football is a lot further along than in England.

Finding myself in a final with Atletico makes me happy. Why? Because I know the feelings of all the people at the club - because I know how the players feel. They need to see their team as champions, so we have more fans every day.

I was not a Liverpool fan or a Chelsea fan in Madrid. I was an Atletico fan. I still am. Maybe they're the only badge I will kiss.

I am not saying that I am at the same level as Messi or Ronaldo. They are the best two players in the world, but I am very proud that I managed to finish above them in the goalscoring charts, especially as I was playing for Atletico Madrid, not Barcelona or Real Madrid.

I was captain in Atletico at 19, playing in the same team as Demetrio Albertini, who won three Champions Leagues, and Sergi Barjuan from Barcelona, who had won everything, and they were 32, 33. I was a kid as captain, so I wasn't the real captain, just a kid learning from them.

I remember when I first came to Liverpool, Pepe Reina helped with everything, and he made it easy for me. When I was Atletico Madrid captain, I tried to help everyone. These are the basics in football: you need to create an atmosphere and try to create a group of friends. It's not easy, and it doesn't always happen, but you have to try.

I think it's a thing in France, and I think you see it a little bit in Spain with Atletico: the countries and the cities just absolutely love their football. It's not because they're just marketing geniuses; it's because they've made it simple.

I think the difference between Real Madrid and Barcelona against the rest of the league is always getting bigger. It's going to be a league of two and I'm not sure if Atletico Madrid are really going to be there, what they've done is amazing - reaching the Champions League final twice and winning the league - but I think they're starting to fall behind. For Zizou, winning La Liga is the real challenge.

I would give Fernando Torres a contract for life - not just as a player but as an example for everyone. He is a very nice guy, really close to the fans, and has inside him the values of Atletico Madrid.

I hope to stay many years in Manchester United and make history in this club. When I was at Porto and Atletico Madrid, I always wanted to improve to achieve my dream of playing in a team like this.

You want to compete against the best players and that year at Atletico helped me a lot to become what I am now. It was difficult because it was the first time I was living alone but I think I adapted quickly to a new life.

Manchester United are a great club, and being associated with them is a great compliment for me, but Atletico are also great.

I played soccer when I was a kid. I started when I was 8 and played for 8 more years. I was pretty good. I used to train with Atletico Nacional, which is one of the most important teams in Colombia. I used to train every day.

Ajax have a set model, a defined youth programme - Barcelona have one too, and Juventus. And Atletico Madrid do too. Real Madrid don't - because they alternate developing their own players with signing talent.

I won the title three times with Ajax; I played in the Champions League final and won the league title with Atletico. I have also played in the World Cup.