Abbiati: I Am Better Than Amelia Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Christian Abbiati says he doesn’t want to be considered by Italy for Euro 2008 but says h

Madrid Derby


Abbiati is currently on loan at Atletico from AC Milan, and is looking forward to tomorrow’s capital derby with Real Madrid.


"We have to win, because at home we have not beaten them much and we must continue to pursue our objective, qualifying for the Champions League,” the 30-year-old said.


Wish To Stay At Atletico


The custodian has expressed how happy he is living in Spain at the moment.


"I am happy. With my wife and my daughter we are all well, and with more courage we would have chosen to come here a few years ago,” he explained.

"I am still owned by Milan, the final decision lies with them. At the end of the season we shall see, we will evaluate the proposals and decide. Now is still premature.”


Lack Of Young Italian Goalkeepers


Abbiati also hit out at the lack of young Italian goalkeepers coming through in the peninsula.

"In Italy clubs lack the courage necessary to launch and protect a young goalkeeper,” he said, referring to the fact that seven of Serie A’s first-choice goalkeepers are foreign, while another four are between the ages of 39-43.


“Roma have Curci, but they play Doni. Inter bought Viviano, but he left to join Brescia. It is true that we no longer have so many youngsters like before but some should surely play.


Euro 2008 & Amelia

Finally Abbiati closed the door on the possibility of travelling to Euro 2008 as a backup for Gianluigi Buffon, while he also hit out at the ability of Livorno’s Marco Amelia.


"No thanks, I already gave my service,” Abbiati said.


“I was the third goalkeeper for 8 years, that is enough. Now I like to stay at home with my family. The third goalkeeper must be young and talented - Curci is perfect.


“As for the other two positions, the number one [Buffon] is indisputable but I do not agree about the number 12. The coach will have his reasons. Amelia is good off the pitch. He is a very good goalkeeper, but I do not see big differences between me and him. I am better than Amelia.”

Aguirre: We Feel As Important As Madrid Atletico Madrid boss Javier Aguirre is very confident of his team ahead of their highly anticipated clash wit

Aguirre, who was born in Mexico, is convinced that his team can pick up a good result against the Spanish league leaders, and affirms that his players feel “as important” as Bernd Schuster’s.

“We are near Real Madrid on the table, and we feel as important as them," he said. "We know that we have a team with lots of quality.

"Eight years ago we were in Second Division, while they were in First [Division], and today, after years of hard work without interruption from this institution, we are very even.

“We have lots of reasons to be confident ahead of the derby. One of them is our good display against Real Madrid in recent times.

"In the three derbies I have experienced, Atletico have played very good football, although we didn’t win.

“The final outcomes have been a little unfair when you take into consideration what has been seen on the field, so this gives us further motivation for the derby. It is time to change that."

He is still upset with some refereeing decisions that he believes allowed Madrid to get out of jail, particularly in the 1-1 draw at the Vicente Calderon last year, when Atleti were denied a legitimate goal that would have made it 2-0.

"That surely hasn’t been forgotten by anybody, because it would have given us the victory. These are little things that give us more strength to win the match this time around," he said.

“We have to continue to work to change our luck. I remember that goal which wasn’t awarded to Perea."

Reyes Returns In Time For Derby José Antonio Reyes has recovered from injury in time for the derby encounter against his former club Real Madrid on S

The 24-year-old has shaken off an ankle problem to make himself available to coach Javier Aguirre for the eagerly anticipated encounter.

After picking up the knock in the Copa del Rey game on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey game against Real Valladolid, it was touch and go whether he would be ready.

While Reyes may be included in the squad, it is unlikely that he will make the starting line-up and will have to be content with a place on the bench.

There was more good news for Atlético as Leo Franco, Giorgios Seitaridis, Zé Castro and José Manuel Jurado are all set to train on Saturday morning.

Reyes left Madrid in the summer despite Los Merengues being confident of being able to persuade him to make his loan move from Arsenal permanent.

Instead, he opted to move across town and sign for Atlético where he has helped the club into the top four and to the latter stages of the UEFA Cup.

Forlán: Madrid Will Not Be Affected By Cup Exit Diego Forlán does not believe that Real Madrid will be affected by their midweek Copa del Rey exit as

The Uruguayan striker thinks that bernd Schuster's team will be ready for the derby and he is delighted that it will mean even more this season.

While Madrid are looking to regroup after being beaten by Real Mallorca, Forlán and Atlético are hoping to cement their place in the top four.

"I do not think that going out of the cup will affect Madrid. These things happen and they have had plenty of time to motivate themselves ahead of this game," he explained.

"They will want to win and maintain their advantage at the top of the table."

Despite both sides being at the top, Forlán thinks that current form means little in derby matches and thinks that Atlético should focus only on winning local bragging rights.

"A derby is even better if the two teams are high up the table and close to each other, although these games are always different and it makes no difference if you are doing well or not," he continued.

"We just have to try and do as well as we can and not focus on anything else. I am going to do everything I can to help my team to beat a side as hard as Real Madrid.

With Atlético tucked into the Champions League places, there has been talk of a tilt at the title but Forlán admits that would be a difficult task.

"I do not think that going out of the cup will affect Madrid. These things happen and they have had plenty of time to motivate themselves ahead of this game," he said.

"They will want to win and maintain their advantage at the top of the table."

Finally, the former Manchester United and Villarreal forward believes that Sergio Agüero is more likely to grab the headlines against Madrid.

"He is a bigger star than me. The truth is that he is doing so well because he has such quality," he added.

Forlán Unconcerned By Goal Drought Diego Forlán is looking forward to the Madrid derby next weekend and hopes to be able to end his current goal drou

The Uruguayan striker has not scored for several weeks and must now attempt to find the net again against Iker Casillas, who is having an outstanding season.

After failing to score on Sunday against Valencia, Forlán was substituted during the second half but it has not affected his confidence.

"I am not nervous or worried," he explained.

"It is the same challenge as I have against every keeper. It is a game against a great team and against one of the best goalkeepers, but it is still just one more match."

Forlán admitted that he is surprised at how much of an advantage Real Madrid have built up at the top of the table and defended Los Merengues against the criticism that they are winning and not playing well.

"They are a great team, with a strong squad and they have a powerful forward line," he said.

"They are the leaders with a ten, no seven, points advantage and that was not something that was expected at this.

"People can say what they like, but they are up there and have created a big gap."