Atletico Madrid captain Koke Resurreccion has defined that the important thing distinction between the Atleti that appears like a major candidate for the La Liga title, and the Atleti that crashed out of the Champions League in backside place final season is confidence.

The 31-year-old has seen the whole lot of the Diego Simeone period at Atletico, the one participant to have accomplished so. With his contract up subsequent summer season, Koke defined that his solely want was to proceed at his boyhood membership, the place he has been enjoying since six years.

“You already know my idea and philosophy of life. I’ve been here since I was six years old and I want to continue. I know the situation of the club and what has happened, whenever there has been a need to help, I have been the first to do so, and we will see what happens. My desire is to continue, I have always said so, but it no longer depends entirely on me either. I don’t want to be a burden on the club tomorrow either, what I want is to be important, continue playing and enjoying what I’m doing and continue with the streak of games I’ve had, and I’m at a good level,” he instructed Marca.

Things regarded so much much less sure this time final 12 months, not least for supervisor Diego Simeone. El Cholo just lately prolonged his contract till 2027, however for the primary time final season, the query was brazenly raised as as to if it was the top of his cycle.

When Los Colchoneros breaked for the World Cup, they had been fifth in La Liga and out of Europe. This season they’re high of their group, and 6 factors off league leaders Girona with a sport in hand. They are additionally the facet with probably the most factors in La Liga in 2023. Koke was requested how he may clarify such an enormous turnaround.

“The coach sent a message about how to play, he proposed something else, wanting to have more possession and change several details and the team accepted it well. He went all the way with that idea, before we did the same, but things didn’t work out.”

| Q&A with Koke:

“Best defensive midfielder? Busquets
Best passer? Xabi Alonso
The finest for delivering a cross? Radamel Falcao
The finest for aiding within the field? Diego Costa
The finest finisher? Falcao
The finest scorer? Luis Suárez
The most inventive? Antoine Griezmann
The most… pic.twitter.com/dIzk3M0pgK

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) November 20, 2023

“The team began to grow, to gain confidence, winning games little by little and we reached this point we have today. We also have talks with each other and talk about our things, but beyond that it was because the results came. Because I remember that at the beginning of the season, maybe we weren’t playing well, we were winning a game and they tied us at the end or they scored a goal and we lost… That takes away your confidence.”

While Simeone modified the enjoying type, Koke was clear that it was the boldness to hold out, gleaned from the early outcomes, which had made the distinction.

“For example, this year the beginning of the game against Cadiz was not good and we came back. Also in other games at home we didn’t start well, we conceded and the team ended up turning the result around. In the end it is having confidence in what you do and that the results will come.”