Monday, November 4, 2024, 1:32 p.m.
| Updated 3:57 p.m.
Real Madrid faces Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu in a crucial duel on the fourth day of the group stage of the Champions League. With a balance of two victories against Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund, and a defeat against Lille, the match will not only be important for the merengue team, but will also mark a special moment for Álvaro Morata, Milan forward, who returns to the stadium that was his house for several seasons. Before the match, the Spanish forward gave an interview to ‘The Athletic’, where he shared his reflections on this return to the Bernabéu.
«In the end I think it will be the same as when I returned with Atleti. I don’t think things have changed much. But I’m aware of it and I expect people to whistle at me and everything. “It’s normal,” declared Morata, anticipating a reception that could be hostile from the Madrid fans. Despite the possible controversy, the player emphasized his respect for the club that formed him and which he still considers special.
In the interview, Morata also reflected on the atmosphere he has experienced since arriving in Italy. “Real Madrid and Milan have the same aura,” he said, highlighting the historical greatness of both clubs in the world of football. «Before coming to Milan, everyone told me that the air you breathe here is different. For me, Milan has always played an important role in the history of football.
With Tuesday’s game on the horizon, Morata was optimistic about Milan’s chances in European competition. «In football you never know. Last year, Borussia Dortmund were not doing well in the league or in general. They reached the final of the Champions League, and who knows if the shot (made by Niclas Fullkrug) had gone in and not hit the post (with 0-0), perhaps Borussia would now be European champions. That’s the beauty of the Champions League. Every year, teams that no one expects are there or close to it,” he said.
On the pressure players face at this level, Morata admitted that he has had to battle with his own mental challenges throughout his career. «I spent a lot of time fighting my mind and, in the end, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I asked for help. You don’t have to go to the limit to ask for help and treat this problem,” he confessed, underlining the importance of mental health in sport.
Morata is not satisfied with individual achievements, but seeks success through understanding and connection with his colleagues. «For me, success in life is not winning a European Championship, a World Cup, a Champions League or scoring 600 goals. The greatest success you can have is when all the people you spend your days with, the people you work with, really get to know you,” he said, highlighting his desire to be remembered as a good person in the locker room.
He also reflected on the criticism he has received, especially during the Euro Cup, and assured that he did not feel the need to prove anything. Their focus is on collective success, valuing their reputation in the locker room. In addition, he celebrated Rodri Hernández’s Ballon d’Or as a reflection of the talent of Spanish football and Busquets, who also deserved a Ballon d’Or.
