“There Is A Lot Of Pressure In The Derby But We Have To Learn To Deal With That Pressure, To Stay Calm”

Written By Onyeka Daniel

This weekend, we are going to witness the first high profile derby in the Spanish La Liga when Real Madrid face their city rivals, Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium and both sides will be heading into the game in different form but with the same mindset, to grab all three points available.

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For Belgium midfielder, Axel Witsel, it will be his first Madrid derby and the player can’t wait to help his team to his first derby win after joining the Los Rojiblancos during the just concluded summer transfer window.

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“One of the reasons we are in football is to play in games like this,” Witsel said while speaking to LaLiga World ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid on Sunday 18 September.

“I’ve played in some great derbies like Dortmund-Schalke, which is always hotly contested. I think it will be the same in the Madrid derby. From a young age, you dream of being a professional footballer, and playing in a game like this.” He further added.

Witsel is confident that they can handle Los Blancos though, who he will face for the first time in his career. “We’re aware of what we have to do. There is a lot of pressure in the derby and throughout the season, but we have to learn to deal with that pressure, to stay calm.”

“We’ve got a very strong squad. Physically, we are in great shape, so it’s up to us to play to our potential and give it all we’ve got.” He concluded.

Witsel this season has had to play in the defense despite being primarily a midfielder and has adjusted well to his new position in the team and the fact that French striker, Karim Benzema could miss the game will make his defensive work much easier in the game.

Meanwhile…

Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois has put his team’s lackluster performance against German side, RB Leipzig to the state of the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu, even if he admitted it had been a thick match.

The Los Blancos needed two late goals in the 80th and 90th minutes to get the better of Leipzig in their second game of the UEFA Champions League group stage to make it two wins out if two games and take one step towards qualification for the knockout stage.

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“Leipzig are a good team and we struggled a lot today. The first half was not good, the state of the pitch does not help us to play our football.” “The boss changed things at the break, we did not create much danger but we put away the ones [chances] we did have.

“These matches are important to win and now winning the double duel against Shakhtar [Donetsk] you are already qualified.” The goalkeeper said. The club’s Director of Institutional Relations and club spokesperson Emilio Butragueno also agreed that the pitch was not up to standard.

With their next game being away to Atletico Madrid, followed by an international break, the staff at the Bernabeu will have around three weeks to work out the issues with the grass before any more games take place there.

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