Real Madrid striker Morata dismisses Benzema rivalry

Atletico de Madrid head coach Diego Pablo Simeone, up center, gestures during a training session ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal, 2nd leg soccer match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid, in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

Real Madrid has beaten its opponent, Granada, with a 4-0 victory on May 6. “There are also people here from the hood, humble, with values??and manners”.

The Spain global has only started 13 La Liga games for Real this season, primarily playing back-up to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

Atletico is trying to avoid losing to Madrid for the fourth straight season in the Champions League.

“It is a game where we have to give everything for the fans so that they can always be proud of their players”, he said, quoted in Marca.

“It is clear it is a great challenge”.

Los Rojiblancos have won 17 and drawn four of their 21 Champions League home games in the past four years, keeping 17 clean sheets. We started the game well and that is what pleases us coaches.

“I know what we are capable of”.

However, the Frenchman believes even if Real ended up missing out on both La Liga and the Champions League, it would be unfair to categorise their season as a failure.

Moreover, they could become the first side in the Champions League era to retain the trophy. “Most of his solo runs are so quick I don’t even have time to see what he’s done”, he said.

“I didn’t enjoy that first-half that’s for sure and I would like to have my own team one day but that’s personal and that’s not why I’m here”, he added. “Every time they have the chance to play they take it and score”.

After 50 years at the Calderon, Atletico move to the new 67,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano next season.

Atletico captain Gabi Fernandez later talked about Ramos’ comments.

“We are not feeling the pressure”.

And yet as the stadium emptied almost two hours later, it was the Atletico fans, beaten but unbowed, who sang the club’s anthem into the night. It gave me goosebumps. “After many months we are close to having the full squad back available, which is positive so the coach can choose what he understands he needs for the game tomorrow”.

La Liga: Barcelona 4 (Neymar 21, Messi 45, 82-pen, Suarez 68) bt Villarreal 1 (Bakambu 32); Granada 0 lost to Real Madrid 4 (Rodriguez 3, 11, Morata 30, 35).

Gareth Bale remains sidelined with a calf injury.