Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo: “Barcelona are one of the best teams in Europe”

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo: “Barcelona are one of the best teams in Europe”

The rivalry between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid has been one of the defining storylines of the season, and Enrique Cerezo, the Atletico president, has offered his perspective on a campaign filled with high-stakes encounters and controversy.

Speaking to SPORT, Cerezo reflected on the six meetings between the two sides this season – clashes that saw Atletico eliminate Barcelona from both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.

Despite the competitive edge, the president was quick to acknowledge the quality of the Catalan side while also highlighting his club’s achievements.

“Barcelona are one of the best teams in Europe. They have excellent players and a brilliant manager. They won LaLiga last season and are currently clear leaders.

“These have been fantastic matches for the fans. They’ve won some, we’ve won others; it’s been a great spectacle.

“It’s true that we’ve managed to knock them out of both the Cup and the Champions League, and achieving that against such a top-class side makes us feel very proud,” he explained.

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While praise was evident, Cerezo made it clear that Atletico remain focused on their own squad rather than looking elsewhere for reinforcements.