Atlético Are Excited Not Nervous - Antonio López

Antonio López has revealed that Atlético de Madrid are not nervous ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Schalke 04 and are instead excited by the hotly-anticipated tie.



The Spanish international defender believes that after all the waiting and preparation, Los Colchoneros are keen to test themselves and to try and make it through to the group stages.

Hopes were high that Atlético would be given an easier task in the preliminary round, but they are ready to take on the task of beating the Bundesliga giants.

“More than feeling nervous, we can’t wait for the match to get here. We’ve waited for so long to experience this moment, and the only thing that we want is for Wednesday to get here already," he told Atléti's official website.

“I think that the qualifying tie is 50-50. There’s going to be a great environment, but we hope that the game will go our way. We’re aware that we’re going to face a tough team, but we have to focus on ourselves.

"We have to plan, read the match well and impose our style of play. It’s important to leave there having scored.

“I don’t like to make predictions. It wouldn’t be bad to score, although what we have to try to do is keep a clean sheet, as that way we’d play at Vicente Calderón more tranquilly.”

The club have planned their summer rebuilding programme around their return to the Champions League and everyone connected with Atlético is ready for the tie.

“We’re taking the Champions League qualifier very seriously. Since the pre-season started we’ve been working hard and we don’t want this opportunity to escape," Antonio López continued.

"Atlético de Madrid hasn’t been in Champions League for a long time and it’s time to take another step. We can’t throw away last season’s work as well as those before it. We’re not going to waste this chance."