“It’s been a very nice and learning year”
Fernando Torres talks to the Club's official media about the recently concluded U19’s 2022/23 season, as Atlético de Madrid has competed at a very high level both in the UEFA Youth League and in the Liga División de Honor, King’s Cup, and the Copa de Campeones.
...The 2022/23 season is coming to an end for Atlético de Madrid U19’s squad and Fernando Torres takes a look back to the highlights, from the memorable UEFA Youth League tie at the Cívitas Metropolitano to the high level of competition in the Division of Honor and the Copa de Campeones. Also, the coach has highlighted the good work in the Red-and-white Academy as it can be seen clearly this season in the figure of Pablo Barrios.
“It has been a very nice year again, for the players, for the coaching staff… one more of learning. This is how I take this stage on a personal level, learning day by day, because the players have a very high level and great potential. When they believe in what they are doing, they are closer to winning, to compete, to show they are a part of the future of this club” Torres says to Atlético de Madrid official media.
"Los chicos han demostrado que saben jugar con coraje y corazón"
— Atleti Academia (@AtletiAcademia) March 1, 2023
— Fernando Torres pic.twitter.com/tUbUIFHKBx
The Madrid City Derbies have been tough contest this season -both in the League and Copa de Campeones- as the last one was decided on the extra time. The former striker was proud of the level of the Red-and-white guys during the tie, in a second leg in which they managed to “recognize the team”. “We were an aggressive team, united, that pressured with intensity, that knows how to manage game times, something that we have lacked during the season. We have been able to compete against some of the highest-level rivals in the country because we have been better in a 90-minute game”, he says.
One of the most remarkable moments of the season was the big Last-16 UEFA Youth League win over Genk at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium (4-1): “Was the most important moment of the season. I could see their illusion and passion, the excitement they felt. It was their dream come true. And that’s what we wanted to teach them: to play with passion and intensity, as we think they can connect better with the people this way. That’s how we are unstoppable”, the coach highlights.
"Ha sido un año muy bonito y de aprendizaje para el equipo"
— Atleti Academia (@AtletiAcademia) May 19, 2023
— Fernando @Torres analiza la temporada 2022/23 del Juvenil A pic.twitter.com/WnNttpKOaF
“We have told them about how different our club is. The level they performed that day, how they played, how they celebrated the goals. How they lived every moment, with emotion, and really dreamed that one day they could be playing every weekend with the first team. I think all of us, those of us around the players as well, felt different emotions that day. We must thank the people who came to the stadium, as well as those who watched on tv, I'm sure they also saw the players of the future and were able to visualize how some of these guys can be in the first team in the future. That is our job here”, Fernando says.
The Madrid-born former player highlighted the meteoric growth of youth player Pablo Barrios, already part of the first team: “It’s an example for the Academy. Everything that will come to him in the future will be good, he has a good level and mentality. The fans want their great signing to be a youth player from the Academy. I notice it in the reaction when Pablo plays”, he wishes.
“We already have Pablo alongside Koke, Saúl, and all the players that the Academy has produced. Hopefully, he can establish himself in the first team for many years. I see that all the work that is done in the youth categories is paying off -from recruiting to training the players-, with new players not only for us but for the National Team. I am sure that there will be many more in the future because they are coming strong and that makes us very happy ”.