Atletico Madrid midfielder Morten Hjulmand expects another fiercely contested Madrid derby when Diego Simeone’s side host Real Madrid on September 20 in LALIGA, but believes Atletico’s experienced players will be crucial in handling the pressure of one of Spanish football’s biggest fixtures. Talking to FanCode, the official broadcaster of LALIGA in India, The Danish midfielder acknowledged that the scale of Atletico’s task is significant, particularly given Real Madrid’s attacking quality, but dismissed the prospect of another high-scoring derby such as Atletico’s 5-2 victory over Real in the past.
Morten Hjulmand believes Atletico’s experienced core can help the team navigate the intensity of the derby.
For Hjulmand, pressure is an unavoidable part of representing Atletico, regardless of the opponent or competition. “That’s a part of the game. Hjulmand believes Atletico’s experienced core can help the team navigate the intensity of the derby. He highlighted captain Koke , goalkeeper Jan Oblak and other long-serving members of the squad, along with the coaching staff, as important sources of guidance for the younger players. The midfielder also reflected on training under Diego Simeone and the increased intensity he has experienced since moving to Atletico from Sporting CP. “So, there has been a difference, of course. La Liga is a stronger league than the Portuguese league. Hjulmand also noted a tactical difference between his former club and Atletico.
The midfielder said the team has experienced that pressure throughout the season, including in matches against Osasuna, Real Sociedad and Liverpool. “When you’re a player of Atletico, you always have pressure, no matter who you are going to play and which competition it is,” he said. The demands of both training and matches have risen, with the greater intensity and quality of La Liga requiring a different approach, according to Hjulmand. “His focus on the training is to train well, because if you train well, you play well,” Hjulmand said, referring to the demands of his coaching environment. At Sporting, he said, his side was more dominant in possession and generally able to control matches, whereas Atletico faced opponents capable of imposing themselves on the game. “One of my best skills as a midfielder is the balance I bring to the team,” Hjulmand said. “In a game like this, where the intensity is very high and you have many duels, I think my balance can help the team.”
