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Focused Falcao committed to Atletico Madrid
May 8, 2012 8:23:00 PM
The Colombian has been in sensational goalscoring form this season after his summer switch from Porto, but he is playing down talk of a move away from the Vicente Calderon
| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £16.00 | Draw £45.00 | Mallorca £55.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £16.70 | Draw £37.50 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £16.15 | Draw £40.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £16.00 | Draw £42.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Atl. Madrid £15.70 | Draw £40.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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The Colombia international has enjoyed a spectacular debut campaign with the Rojiblancos after joining from Porto last season, netting 36 times in all competitions so far this season.
That has prompted talk of a move to one of Europe’s elite, but Falcao insists that he is happy at the Vicente Calderon and is focused on the meeting with Athletic in Bucharest, and this weekend’s Liga clash with Villarreal - a game Diego Simeone’s men must win to give themselves a chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
“I have a contract for another four seasons and I am thinking only of Atletico,” the striker told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I would not have signed a deal that long if I did not believe that I would stay here for a while.
“Nobody knows the future, but I am focused on Atletico, this final, the game on Sunday and next season.
“Obviously this is not sufficient to stop the rumours and the speculation, but these ideas are clear in my mind.”
Falcao is extremely wary of the threat posed by Athletic to his side’s hopes of European glory, but he is confident that Argentine coach Simeone, who only arrived in the Spanish capital during the winter break, will have the Rojiblancos in exactly the right frame of mind for the all-Spanish showdown.
“'Cholo' has given us a big boost psychologically since he took over and is driving us hard to achieve our goals in the next few days: European success and qualification for the Champions League,” he explained.
“On the mental level, we have been transformed under him; he has given us strength, tranquillity and security.”
The Europa League final kicks off in Romania at 20.45CET.
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
4:59 PM BST
The injury-enforced absence of Dortmund’s Bayern-bound playmaker, Gotze, is of course the principal talking point in terms of team news. The 20-year-old’s unavailability is clearly a hammer blow for die Schwarzgelben, but, as team-mate Kevin Grosskreutz pointed out this week, Dortmund destroyed Bayern in last year’s DFB Pokal final without Gotze.
4:54 PM BST
But what do the fans think? Well, yesterday Goal’s roving reporter Kris Voakes went along to the Uefa Champions Festival, which is being staged at the Olympic Park in Stretford, and he spoke with supporters from both sides.
Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.
"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."
But Dortmund fan Nicolas says the loss of Mario Gotze to injury is not too much of a concern for Jurgen Klopp's side: “We have Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, and yes, we will be fine without Gotze. We will win 2-0.”
Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.
"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."
But Dortmund fan Nicolas says the loss of Mario Gotze to injury is not too much of a concern for Jurgen Klopp's side: “We have Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, and yes, we will be fine without Gotze. We will win 2-0.”
4:44 PM BST
However, Dortmund simply cannot be discounted. They relish the role of underdogs and are not in the least bit afraid of their illustrious rivals, having now gone six Bundesliga games without defeat against die Roten. The last time these two met in a final, in last season’s DFB Pokal, Dortmund ran out 5-2 winners. As coach Jurgen Klopp pointed out this week: “We’re not the best team in the world, but we can beat the best team in the world."
4:43 PM BST
Bayern, of course, start as overwhelming favourites to prevail this evening, and understandably so. Not only did they mercilessly batter Barcelona into a shockingly tame capitulation at Camp Nou, they are also coming off the back of a record-breaking Bundesliga campaign which they finished a staggering 25 points clear of runners-up Dortmund, whom they are unbeaten against in four meetings this season.
4:40 PM BST
So, what do you think? Who will prevail this evening? Are Bayern going to banish the memory of last year’s devastating and inexplicable loss to Chelsea at the Allianz Arena? Or are Dortmund going to defy the odds once again and go from the brink of bankruptcy to Champions League winners in just eight years? Get in touch via Facebook and Twitter and I’ll be sure to post the best comments in here.
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