Torres: We can stand up to Barca & Real Madrid in every competition

The Atletico Madrid striker admits he is relishing being part of the Vicente Calderon set-up again and says Diego Simeone will be wanted by many other clubs


Fernando Torres believes Atletico Madrid are capable of standing up to Barcelona and Real Madrid in every tournament this season.

The Liga champions, who broke the Clasico clubs’ duopoly over the league title last season, beat their city rivals 4-2 on aggregate in the Copa del Rey to set up a meeting with Barca in the quarter-finals.

With their title defence and Champions League campaigns still very much on track, Torres feels his side have proven they are now a consistent threat to Spain’s two biggest clubs.

“Thank God there’s a third team in the form of Atletico, who have been able to beat them and who can stand up to them in every competition these days. We are a difficult team to beat,” he told TVE ahead of Wednesday’s first leg against Barcelona.

Barca beat Atleti 3-1 in a Liga clash earlier this month and Torres acknowledges Luis Enrique’s side are hard to stop if they are allowed to play to their potential.

“When they are feeling good, when they feel comfortable and they are in their element, then they win their games, as they did against Deportivo,” he said.

Torres admits he is relishing the chance to play for his boyhood club again but concedes head coach Diego Simeone is likely to be wanted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs as long as Atleti continue to challenge for honours.

“I was made up the day that I was presented as an Atletico player. Until you’re wearing that strip again, you don’t realise how much you missed it,” he added.

“He’ll have offers. I’m sure he has had, he has, and he will have offers, whatever players he has and whatever shape the team is in.”

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