Atlético and Real Madrid meet this Thursday in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. In an irreverent atmosphere.
Fresh winners of the Spanish Super Cup, Real could expect a guard of honor from the Matelassiers. It won’t happen. Diego Simeone himself confirmed it this Wednesday to the press.
“ This is not a match like any other because one team will be eliminatedintroduces the Atlético coach to set the scene. There are always a lot of matches in the league. In this, there is no margin, neither for them nor for us. So we need our supporters. We need the atmosphere to be as it usually is at the Metropolitano and I hope we can transmit the best energy to the supporters from the pitch so that they can accompany us. »
The precedents of 2022 and 2014
In other words, there is no question of kowtowing to Madrid’s great rival. “ We haven’t changed our minds since last time. Yes, we respect and salute the coach and players, as we should, as work colleagues. But our supporters always come first and we respect them. » In May 2022, in such a position, the Colchoneros refused to take a guard of honor in front of their Merengue counterparts, then just crowned champions of Spain.
Note that Real Madrid did the same in 2014 during the Champions League final against Atlético. A few days earlier, Diego Simeone’s players had won La Liga.
