Oblak: Atlético will give everything; Madrid derbies are always special

Atlético Madrid will host Real Madrid in the Madrid derby. Ahead of the match, Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak attended the media conference, discussing the team's recent performance, preparations for the derby, and facing Real Madrid under Mourinho's management, among other topics.

I'd like to ask about this derby. Since Mourinho returned, does this derby have special significance?

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'm confident this will be a very interesting match.

Your performance in the last two matches has been good, with two consecutive clean sheets. I'd like to know if this match could be a test to see how high this team can reach and what the team's limits are in such an important match?

Oblak: Yes, I think we played quite well in the last two matches, especially the most recent one. Our performance has been good, but we're still early in the season, some players haven't returned yet, and many new players have joined the team, so the squad is still in a process of adjustment and development.

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

You've played 36 derbies against Real Madrid. Has your approach to these matches changed since your first Madrid derby? Thank you.

Oblak: Nothing has changed. It's been the same since my first derby until now. In every derby, you go out onto the pitch to win, you give everything on the pitch, you play with the mentality of trying to do your best, and you do everything you can to help the team. So this time won't be any different from when I played in my first derby.

You're one of the team captains and a highly influential player in the dressing room. Early in the season has been difficult, with many players away with their national teams until you finally had a chance to train together, not to mention the Álvarez situation. As captain, how do you handle this in the dressing room? Have you spoken with him this week?

Oblak: I think, both as a player and as captain, we all handle it as something that happens normally. It has happened, and Álvarez is still with us. I've said it before, and we all say it—we always support him.

He's doing his best, he's played some matches, and he's given everything he can. I'm confident that as long as Álvarez is here, he'll give 100%. He'll do everything he can for the club and try to help the team achieve the best results.

You've worked with Simeone for years and have witnessed the development and changes of this team since the beginning. Do you think the team is taking more risks now and conceding more goals as a result?

Oblak: I think football as a whole has changed, whether it's in terms of conceding or scoring goals. Football is very different now than it was a few years ago. Maybe a few years ago, defending was easier, or other teams weren't as impactful in attack as they are now. The Champions League is always very difficult, and our style of play is clearly different from before. But at the same time, it's also difficult to play the way we used to.

I think football has evolved rapidly. Overall, there are more goals in matches now than before, and I think that's normal.

You previously conceded goals in four consecutive matches, and now you've kept two clean sheets in a row. What work have you and Simeone done recently to prevent the team from conceding so many goals?

Oblak: I hope we can continue this momentum. But as I said earlier, football has changed. Teams are now very strong, they're excellent in attack, and they know how to find spaces that might not have been so easy to find in the past. But we've been working on this, and we need to improve in all aspects. In the last two matches, we've done very well, and we need to keep heading in this direction.

Clearly, we want to concede as few goals as possible, but on the other hand, you also need to score goals. What really matters is winning the match. In the end, as long as you score one more goal than your opponent, you win, and that's what's most important. But I'm confident that as the season progresses, we'll keep improving. In the last two matches, we've really done very well. As I said, I hope we can maintain this performance.

I'd like to ask about Koke. He keeps breaking records, and even after all these years, his performance is still outstanding. How do you explain this? Also, for a match like Sunday's, is having a leader like him on the pitch more important than ever?

Oblak: I think Koke is a legend of this club, and he continues to prove it. He plays now because his performance deserves it. It's not because he's Koke, and it's not because he's played so many matches for the team, but because of the performance he shows in training every day, and that will also show in matches.

He's the captain of this team and a role model for the club. I think all of Atlético can be very proud of him, because he really fights for this club with everything he has. He's always there. As I always say, I hope he can keep playing for many more years, and I also hope he eventually ends his career at this club.

Every time the league starts, we ask you what Atlético's goals are for the season. The reality is that if you win the derby on Sunday, you'll be ahead of Real Madrid going into the international break and closer to Barcelona. You've been with Atlético for years—is this Atlético team fighting to win La Liga? Thank you.

Oblak: Atlético fights to win the league title every year. We compete with many strong teams, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Villarreal is also very strong now, as are Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis. Many teams are performing very well.

But what's certain is that we compete in this league every year with the goal to win. We're not here just to participate or to stay at the top and finish third or fourth. Clearly, 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 periods during the season, and there will also be periods when things don't go the way you want.

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

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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