The Mallorca striker knows what it means to score against the team in red and white, and he is optimistic ahead of meeting Cholo’s team.
Vedat Muriqi (Prizren, Kosovo, 30 years old) is the key figure of Mallorca. Atlético Madrid are well aware of this, having recently lost to Son Moix (21-22 and 22-23) with ‘Pirate’ scoring in both matches, which ended in 1-0 victories. Once again, the striker poses a threat to the red and whites, expressing his admiration for Simeone. In an analysis with AS, the striker reflects on his team’s good form, speaking openly about the club’s European ambitions and historic challenges.
“The team responds collectively, and you feel good individually too.”
“I feel good, and we are in great shape. We are training well and working hard, although we are coming from a heavy defeat against Alavés where we were not able to show our best version. We left this match behind us and we are going to give our all against Atlético in front of our supporters, we are going to show what we are really capable of.”
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In his first two seasons at Mallorca, he scored to secure a 1-0 win against Atlético in both those encounters.
“Yes, well, I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not. Scoring and winning with your goal is something good, and for a striker there is nothing better than that, although that really doesn’t matter who scores you know me; I always say I don’t care if the team wins, I’m doubly happy, and I hope I can score three against the. Atlético de Madrid.”
It would be easy to think that if a struggling Mallorca managed to beat Atlético, then this improved Mallorca team could do it again, right?
“We can say that we are playing much better in front of our supporters. We have more desire, and that is where we can make the difference. I have no doubt that our supporters will support us as they always do. It’s up to us to suffer, to fight, and to give everything during the match.”
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What do you think of this Atlético de Madrid team which seems to have its doubts?
“They have made very good signings, and it seems there are doubts because they have spent so much money. I experienced that at Lazio. When a club pays a lot for a striker, there is has a lot of pressure, but I believe that Atlético has a very solid squad and a coach who has been there for a long time and knows how to motivate a team that is struggling. They play well, press well and are aggressive. I really like Simeone’s style of play with Atlético. It’s a team that bites, that pushes, and depending on whether they have the ball or lose it, they adapt and change their style. for a very difficult match.”
You are a player with both collective and individual virtues, but there is an intriguing relationship on the pitch with Dani Rodríguez that deserves to be clarified. What is the secret of this understanding?
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(Laughs) Because off the field, we are always together. We are the first to arrive at training every day. Antonio Sánchez, Greif and I really enjoy each other’s company off the field. Playing with Dani Rodríguez is very easy for attackers because he understands football well and this guy never stops moving, he positions himself behind the defenders, comes down to receive the ball and creates space. You don’t need to move much if you’re with him, but if you move, it makes his job easier. Every time I play with him, I feel really good—we understand each other well, and when he has the ball, I already know when he’s going to cross, pass or shoot. Spending so much time with him on and off the field has allowed us to grow in that way.”
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Fans and media are getting excited. It’s been twenty years since Mallorca last played in Europe. Do we dare to dream?
“It’s still very early; I have to be honest. It’s still very early because we started on a good note, which was unexpected. We have a good coach, an excellent squad and a solid group on the pitch as well than outside, but we have to take the matches one by one like Girona did last season. They didn’t dream of the Champions League in their first ten matches, and look where they are now. We have to take it step by step, and maybe with time we can dream a little, but it’s still too early. We’re not even halfway through the season, and there are some very good teams. who always fight for these goals and never give up.”
What a great connection the team, and you in particular, have with the fans.
“Honestly, I have been professional for twelve or thirteen years, and I have never experienced anything like this. In Mallorca, people support us not only on good days; we had difficult moments, for example, losing a final Cup, and if I think about the eight years I spent in Turkey, if you lost a final, the next day, you heard everything from the fans here, they were more enthusiastic than before the match, and that got to me. How come? They encouraged and supported us—the people of Mallorca are very nice, they understand football, and they always support us, both in good times and bad.”
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In two full seasons, half a season, and what remains of it, you became the fourth top scorer in the club’s history in La Liga, behind Eto’o, Arango and Víctor Casadesús.
“It’s an honor to be part of the history of the club, and I don’t want to stop there. I want to climb higher. There are legends of this club, like Samuel Eto’o, and to be among them is more than an honor for me, because I achieved it through hard work Since the first day I arrived, I felt at home and I always said that I wanted to enter the. history of Mallorca through my goals or winning a title—be it a Cup—by doing things the right way, both on and off the pitch. I believe I am on the right track and I will continue like this. One day overtaking Eto’o, who is a legend of world football, will be a pleasure and an honor for me.”
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And those numbers come despite missing a month last season due to injury and another month this season. You could have scored a few more goals.
“Well, I never like to talk about things that didn’t happen because we’ll never know what could have happened. I could have played every game and not scored a single goal. That’s also a point of view. But yes, four months is about fifteen matches; maybe I could have scored four or five more goals, but that’s in the past. There’s still plenty of time to continue playing. and to score without injuries And the most important thing: that the team wins.
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How did you deal with the tragedy in Valencia, and how is your Valencia teammate Toni Lato?
“These are things you never want to see. From the outside it may seem less difficult because you don’t see it, but it hurts. We are human, and our club and everyone are doing everything they can to help those affected We support Lato—he has some affected friends, and we try to support him emotionally From here, I send all possible encouragement and strength to the people of Valencia, hoping that. they never have to experience such events anywhere in the world, because lives are lost and there is nothing you can do from the outside. Much strength, Valencia!”
