Atletico Madrid's derby preparations are complete and the side can't wait to take to the pitch to face Real Madrid, according to an excited Kevin Gameiro. The Frenchman gets his first taste of the capital derby, having made the move to the Rojiblancos from Sevilla during the summer. "We are very, very well prepared for this challenge and we are set up to go out and win this game," Gameiro told Atletico Madrid's official website. "I'm looking forward to this game very much, I really want to play in it and I can't wait to be a part of it. Everyone wants to play in these type of games because it will be a great night at the [Estadio Vicente] Calderon."
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker also revealed that having his compatriot Antoine Griezmann alongside him has made the transition to life at the Rojiblancos even easier. "He is a good guy and a fantastic player and we get along very well," Gameiro added. "We have a good relationship with each other both on and off the field. "Playing with someone as talented as him is very easy."His ascension at club level has also seen the reward of being welcomed back into the international fold after a five-year hiatus. "When a club buys you for almost 40 million euros, it shows that they're very interested in you because that's a great investment for a player of 29 years of age," he told Le Parisien. "I have a great character and I try to prove it on the field. "I'm still growing and new to Atletico, but as I showed at Sevilla last season, I will try to become a leader here aswell." Not just at the Rojiblancos to make up the numbers, it's clear that the Frenchman takes his attitude to work very seriously. "I don't care who doubted me because I live and play football for me, my family and my friends," he said. "The main thing for me is to be well and happy, both personally and in my club."
Although there are similarities to his time in Andalusia, Gameiro has seen Simeone take things up a notch, both in training and in matches. "In Sevilla, with Unai Emery, all we had to participate in the defensive effort," he continued. "At Atletico, the tactics are the same, but Simeone is much more demanding, asking a lot, because he wants everyone to work for the team." International honours shouldn't really have been a surprise given the striker's form, and he holds no grudges over the selection policy that had seen him in the wilderness for so long. "I can't force people to like my game," he explained. "I didn't think about it, the coach had his group and I had to accept it but I've worked hard to get back in."
Comments
Post a Comment