Atletico Madrid Coach Quique Sanchez Flores: Fans Will Support Diego Forlan

Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores believes Vicente Calderon crowd will give Diego Forlan their full backing against Valencia.
Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores has stated that the club’s supporters will give striker Diego Forlan their full backing in the weekend meeting with Valencia.

Sections of the Vicente Calderon crowd have been critical of the Uruguayan’s performances on the pitch this season, and also his comments off it, with the player seemingly stressing a desire to leave.

But Sanchez Flores is sure that if Forlan is to find the net, the fans will show their appreciation, telling the media: “I have respect for the fans at all times, and I cannot intrude on their thoughts. If you check when Forlan scored twice before, the fans were with him, they are an appreciative crowd. Without love everything is difficult, you must first give before you can take things."

Flores, who is facing his former club in tomorrow’s meeting, also commented that he has always felt able to deal with pressure, but added that the team are not playing to a sufficient standard at the moment.

He continued: “Football is not going to change, I’ve almost always worked under pressure, but it is true that I am not getting the performances. I have the support of the people of Atletico, before they stopped to congratulate me, and now they stop and encourage me.

“It has been a very strange atmosphere for new players to come into, but we must start winning points. We want the team to return to the European places.”