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Tuesday 22 April 2014

Juanfran: Atletico can win the double

Juanfran: Atletico can win the double
The defender is confident his side can lift silverware domestically and in Europe and complete the most remarkable of seasons

Juanfran believes Atletico Madrid are capable of winning they double as they chase success in La Liga and the Champions League.

Few expected Diego Simeone's side to be among the frontrunners for major honours having sold star man Radamel Falcao to Monaco last summer, but los Colchoneros have proved to be something of a surprise package.

They currently lead the Spanish top flight by four points and will meet the Blues in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, with Juanfran in confident mood.

"I can’t choose which one I would like to win most. I would like to win both the Champions League and the Primera Division,” the defender told COPE.

“They are both very different and difficult to win, but neither is better than the other. I choose both.”

The 29-year-old is excited ahead of Atletico’s last four tie against the Blues and believes the key to their success this season has been a combination of hard work and positivity.

"We are excited and feeling confident. It will be an historic day for Atletico and our fans and hopefully it will be more because we played well.

“We always enjoy playing in the Champions League because it is different. Against Barcelona in the quarter-final it felt different.

“We get to play teams from the top leagues in Europe and hopefully we can continue to enjoy it.

"We are humble, hard working and enjoying the present moment. This mentality has served us very well and hopefully we can celebrate something special at the end of the season.

“However the current reality is that we have not achieved anything yet. Even though people think we can, this will depend on us. It is in our hands and nobody here wants to let it go.

“Being up there with Real Madrid and Barcelona is nice. Competing with those teams, with their staff, their budgets, is very nice.

“All that hard work that started in pre-season is beginning to pay-off.”

The defender’s main concern ahead of Tuesday’s game is coming up against former Atletico striker Fernando Torres, who Juanfran insists is still one of the best players in the world.

"I am not looking forward to lining up against Fernando Torres,” Juanfran added. “I think he is one of the best players in the world.

“Everyone knows that Fernando is red and white at heart, but he will want to help Chelsea to win.

“In the future he may return [to Atletico]. He is a great player and the big players always have a place at Atletico Madrid."

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