Atlético Madrid President Enrique Cerezo was questioned about the initiatives by some fans to insult Vinícius, as reported by LaLiga.
He asserted that there are “no antiracists, racists, or anyone of any sort” within the red-and-white fans and deemed them to be “orderly.” He emphasized that supporters attending tonight’s derby against Real Madrid at the Cívitas Metropolitano will be there to watch a football match, “not a war.”
“At Atlético de Madrid, I don’t believe there are antiracists, racists, or anyone of any sort. It is an orderly fanbase, and all fanbases have their groups that are behind these kinds of issues. We are always in favor of tranquility, of games being played well, with people coming with their children, families, and friends to enjoy a football match, not a war. I also ask all fans to behave as they should and as they have always behaved at the Metropolitano Stadium,” he stated ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Cerezo expressed that he is not worried about a campaign circulating on social media encouraging fans to wear masks to avoid the identification of potential insults directed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius. “I’m not concerned at all. Whoever has seen it, heard it, or felt it, should take it and prove it, say it, to see exactly what will happen. I am not a fortune teller and I don’t know how people will behave at the football match today. The weather is pleasant, there’s good temperature, not much pollution, and it’s easy to breathe,” he pointed out.
On another note, the Atlético president did not delve deeply into the topic of scheduling and the fact that Diego Pablo Simeone’s side had 48 hours less to prepare for the match. “Sometimes it’s one team’s turn and other times it’s another’s. It’s our turn in this match, what can we do? The RFEF doesn’t do anything, LaLiga doesn’t either. We have to play when we’re told. (Javier Tebas) I believe has already been informed about this. Anyway, you know how this works,” he remarked.
Despite not being a man of predictions, he indicated that they will “come out to win.” “We have a great team, it has been proven. We have players of wonderful quality, and we believe we can truly beat any team, including Real Madrid,” he said. “We will come out to win, as always. There are times when you play poorly and win, and other times you play very well and lose,” he continued.
Regarding the rival to beat in LaLiga this season, Cerezo mentioned, “Everyone, from first to last. The demands remain the same. We must go all out and try to win everything. We are at the same level as we want to be, with Madrid, Barcelona, and any team. What we need is a bit of luck and to win matches,” he expressed.
Finally, he acknowledged that he sees Argentine Julián Álvarez as “very good, a fantastic and wonderful player,” and confessed that he would have “loved” to see Frenchman Kylian Mbappé in the derby. “I would have loved it, because what we enjoy is watching teams that have great players. Everyone wants to see the best players in their field,” he concluded.
