Atletico Madrid will host Real Madrid in the Madrid derby. Ahead of the match, Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak attended a media day press conference, discussing the team's recent form, preparations for the derby, and facing a Real Madrid team coached by Carlo Ancelotti, among other topics.

I'd like to ask about this derby. With Mourinho's return, does this derby have a more special meaning?

Oblak: A derby is always a derby, and it's always a special match for everyone. We always approach it with a strong desire to win, and I believe it will be a very interesting match.

Your performance in the last two matches has been good, keeping two consecutive clean sheets while also scoring many goals. I wonder if this match can be a test for you to see how high this team can reach? What is the limit of this team in such an important match?

Oblak: Yes, I think we played quite well in the last two matches, especially the last one. Our performance has been good, but it's still early in the season. Some players haven't returned yet, and many new players have joined the team, so we're definitely still in the process of adapting and building.

This season will be very long. This is an important match, and it's a derby. Obviously, we want to win. But I don't think Sunday's match will define the trajectory of our entire season.

You have played in 36 derbies against Real Madrid. Has your approach to this type of match changed since your first Madrid derby?

Oblak: Not at all. From my first derby until now, it has always been the same. In every derby, you step onto the field to win, you give your all, you play with the mindset of striving to do your best, and you do everything you can to help the team. This time will be no different.

You are one of the team's captains and a very influential player in the locker room. The start of this season has been difficult, with many players having played for their national teams before we could train together, and of course, there's the Alvarez situation. As a captain, how do you handle this in the locker room? Have you spoken to him this week?

Oblak: I think, whether as players or captains, we treat it as a normal situation. Things have happened, and Alvarez is still with us now. I've said it before, and we've all said it—we've always supported him.

He is doing his best, he has played some matches, and he has given everything he can. I am sure that as long as Alvarez is here, he will give 100%. He will do his utmost for this club and try to help the team achieve the best possible results.

You have worked with Simeone for many years and have witnessed the team's development and changes from the beginning. Do you think the team is taking more risks now and therefore conceding more goals?

Oblak: I think the entire world of football is changing, whether it comes to conceding or scoring goals. Football now is very different from a few years ago. Perhaps a few years ago, defending was easier, or other teams didn't have such a strong attacking impact. The Champions League has always been very difficult, and our current playing style is certainly different from before. But at the same time, it's also difficult to play the way we used to.

I think football has evolved a lot. Generally speaking, there are more goals in matches now than before, and I think that's normal.

You had conceded goals in four consecutive matches before, and now you have kept two consecutive clean sheets. What have you mainly worked on with Simeone recently to avoid conceding so many goals?

Oblak: I hope we can continue this momentum. But as I said before, football has changed. Now all teams are very strong, they are very good at attacking, and they know how to find spaces that might not have been so easy to find in the past. But we have always been training in these areas, and we need to improve in all aspects. In the last two matches, we did very well, and we must continue in this direction.

Obviously, we want to concede as few goals as possible, but on the other hand, you also need to score goals. What's truly important is winning the match. Ultimately, as long as you score one more goal than your opponent, you win, and that's the most important thing. But I believe that as the season progresses, we will continue to improve. In the last two matches, we indeed did very well. I hope we can continue this performance.

I'd like to ask about Koke. He is constantly breaking records, and even as the years pass, his performance remains outstanding. How do you explain this? Also, for a match like Sunday's, is it more important than ever to have such a leader on the field?

Oblak: I think Koke is a legend of this club, and he continues to prove it. He is able to play now because his own performance deserves it. It's not because he is Koke, nor because he has played so many matches for the team, but because of the state he shows every day in training, and these are reflected in the matches.

He is the captain of this team and a benchmark for this club. I think all Atletico fans can be very proud of him, because he is truly giving his all for this club. He has always been here. As I always say, I hope he can continue to play for many more years, and I also hope that he can eventually end his career at this club.

Every time the league starts, we ask you what Atletico's goals are for this season. The reality is, if you can win Sunday's derby, you will be ahead of Real Madrid going into the international break and also close to Barcelona. After so many years at Atletico, is this team fighting to win La Liga?

Oblak: Atletico always strives to win the league title every year. We are competing with many strong teams—Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal is also very strong now, and then there's Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis. Many teams are performing very well.

But what is certain is that we participate in competitions every year with the goal of winning. We are not here just to participate in matches, nor just to maintain a top position and finish third or fourth. Obviously, we want to win the championship. But as I said before, this season will be very long and very difficult. There will certainly be some very good phases, and there will also be phases where things don't go as you wish.

But we must remain united, we must believe in ourselves, and we must also have the ambition to compete for the championship.

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