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Courtois: No pressure on Atletico Madrid
Oct 20, 2012 2:35:00 PM
The Rojiblancos are flying high in the Liga standings, level on points with Barcelona at the summit, but the goalkeeper is remaining grounded about his side's chances this season
| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £15.71 | Draw £44.00 | Mallorca £57.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £16.70 | Draw £37.50 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £16.15 | Draw £40.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £16.00 | Draw £42.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £15.70 | Draw £40.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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The capital outfit have begun the Liga campaign unbeaten, winning six of their games to occupy second place in the standings, leading to calls that the side could be on course to challenge for the title - their last coming in 1996.
But while the Belgium goalkeeper believes his team are more respected and feared than ever, the burden of fighting in the upper echelons of the top flight is not proving to be a heavy weight on him or his colleagues.
"Atleti have always been a good team and well respected, but now we probably command more respect and other sides are more afraid of us because we have won many games [recently]," he told reporters.
"Rivals are forced to change their game against us. We have no pressure to be [in second place]. We have stayed loyal to the same principle - to take each game as it comes.
"We have not acknowledged the fact that we are [at the top] with Barcelona. We believe in [our abilities ahead of] every game. We want to win and there is no more pressure than before.
Courtois then looked ahead to Sunday's Liga clash with Real Sociedad, who are currently placed 13th, and spoke of the importance of picking up the three points at Anoeta.
"We have to look at ourselves," he added. "The most important thing for us is the match tomorrow and we have to stay focused on it.
"We have seen a bit of how [Real] play. It's going to be a tough game because whenever you are the visitors, the encounter is always tricky.
"It's important to win to stay up high [in the table]. We know it will be a tough game but we have the quality to win. We expect to win."
Since his loan arrival from Chelsea in 2011, Courtois has become Atleti's undisputed first choice between the posts, taking the mantle from predecessor David de Gea.
However, his form has seen Sergio Asenjo fall out of favour in the club, despite much fanfare generated by his move from Valladolid, but the 20-year-old is happy to let his rival feature in the Europa League.
"It's normal. Sergio is also a very good goalkeeper and it suits me to get some rest. We won the Europa League last year and this time around we want the same outcome," he explained.
"It does not affect me because I play in the league. It's good to change. This way, he also gets minutes and, if something happens to me, he is ready to play."
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
11:08 PM BST
Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
11:00 PM BST
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
10:56 PM BST
Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
10:51 PM BST
Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
10:48 PM BST
And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
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