Atletico set for trip to Neptune
Source: Agencies |
May 1, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HIGH-FLYING Atletico Madrid fancies a champagne-splashed trip to Neptune after the small matter of cup finals in Hamburg on May 12 and Barcelona on May 19.
Atletico's teenage goalkeeper David De Gea has never had the chance to celebrate at the Neptune fountain in Madrid where the club's fans traditionally gather to party after a title triumph.
After the La Liga side ousted Liverpool in their Europa League semifinal on Thursday -- and with a Copa del Rey final to come -- the 19-year-old could well get to do it twice.
"I have never been to Neptune to celebrate and I rather fancy it," De Gea told reporters after Diego Forlan's strike in added time at Anfield set up a final against Fulham.
When Quique Sanchez Flores replaced Abel Resino as Atletico coach last October the club was in disarray in 15th place in La Liga. It had also just been hammered 0-4 at Chelsea in the Champions League.
Six months on and the former Real Madrid and Valencia defender has lifted the club into the final of both the Europa League and the domestic cup.
It could even eclipse La Liga giants Real and Barcelona as Spain's most successful side of the season.
Atletico's heart-stopping semifinal success against Liverpool sparked wild celebrations in the Spanish capital into the early hours of yesterday morning, with flag-waving and horn-blaring fans driving triumphantly through the city. Several hundred gathered at the Neptune fountain near the Prado museum, traditional site of Atletico's title celebrations down the years.
The team last won a trophy in 1996 when it claimed a Spanish league and Copa double. It takes on Sevilla in the Copa final.
"Who would have thought it (six) months ago," captain Antonio Lopez added. "It's for all the Atletico fans, the families and the club."
Atletico's spectacular turnaround under Sanchez Flores will have been bittersweet for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who moved from boyhood club Atletico in 2007 seeking silverware.
The 26-year-old, sidelined with a knee injury but hoping to be fit for the World Cup, watched from the stands as his beloved former club dashed Liverpool's last chance of a trophy this campaign.
Sanchez Flores said his players were giddy after Uruguay striker Forlan snatched the crucial away goal to send Atletico into the final after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.
"I can't describe what the dressing room was like after the match," the former Valencia and Benfica coach told a news conference. "They were like school kids and it's great to see them so happy."
Liverpool, trailing 0-1 from the first leg, drew level just before the end of the first half through Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani's low curling shot from inside the box.
A quiet second half set up extra time and the hosts took a 2-0 lead on the night through Yossi Benayoun's angled strike.
La Liga leader Barca or second-placed Real could be left watching Atletico's progress with envy after a trophy-less season following elimination from the Champions League and the cup.
"Atletico is poised to clinch an unforgettable double and become the big winners of the season -- and at the expense of their wealthy neighbors to boot," Marca sports daily trumpeted in an editorial yesterday.
Atletico's teenage goalkeeper David De Gea has never had the chance to celebrate at the Neptune fountain in Madrid where the club's fans traditionally gather to party after a title triumph.
After the La Liga side ousted Liverpool in their Europa League semifinal on Thursday -- and with a Copa del Rey final to come -- the 19-year-old could well get to do it twice.
"I have never been to Neptune to celebrate and I rather fancy it," De Gea told reporters after Diego Forlan's strike in added time at Anfield set up a final against Fulham.
When Quique Sanchez Flores replaced Abel Resino as Atletico coach last October the club was in disarray in 15th place in La Liga. It had also just been hammered 0-4 at Chelsea in the Champions League.
Six months on and the former Real Madrid and Valencia defender has lifted the club into the final of both the Europa League and the domestic cup.
It could even eclipse La Liga giants Real and Barcelona as Spain's most successful side of the season.
Atletico's heart-stopping semifinal success against Liverpool sparked wild celebrations in the Spanish capital into the early hours of yesterday morning, with flag-waving and horn-blaring fans driving triumphantly through the city. Several hundred gathered at the Neptune fountain near the Prado museum, traditional site of Atletico's title celebrations down the years.
The team last won a trophy in 1996 when it claimed a Spanish league and Copa double. It takes on Sevilla in the Copa final.
"Who would have thought it (six) months ago," captain Antonio Lopez added. "It's for all the Atletico fans, the families and the club."
Atletico's spectacular turnaround under Sanchez Flores will have been bittersweet for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who moved from boyhood club Atletico in 2007 seeking silverware.
The 26-year-old, sidelined with a knee injury but hoping to be fit for the World Cup, watched from the stands as his beloved former club dashed Liverpool's last chance of a trophy this campaign.
Sanchez Flores said his players were giddy after Uruguay striker Forlan snatched the crucial away goal to send Atletico into the final after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.
"I can't describe what the dressing room was like after the match," the former Valencia and Benfica coach told a news conference. "They were like school kids and it's great to see them so happy."
Liverpool, trailing 0-1 from the first leg, drew level just before the end of the first half through Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani's low curling shot from inside the box.
A quiet second half set up extra time and the hosts took a 2-0 lead on the night through Yossi Benayoun's angled strike.
La Liga leader Barca or second-placed Real could be left watching Atletico's progress with envy after a trophy-less season following elimination from the Champions League and the cup.
"Atletico is poised to clinch an unforgettable double and become the big winners of the season -- and at the expense of their wealthy neighbors to boot," Marca sports daily trumpeted in an editorial yesterday.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
