Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla preview - Koke keen to shun spotlight - 7M sport

Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla preview - Koke keen to shun spotlight



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Posted Saturday, February 26, 2011 by PA

Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla preview - Koke keen to shun spotlight

Atletico Madrid youngster Koke has vowed to "be quiet and take the opportunity" as his career gathers pace.

The 19-year-old midfielder was highly impressive in last weekend's 1-0 win away to Zaragoza in La Liga and has subsequently attracted significant media interest.

However, Koke - who has been linked with various big clubs around Europe - insists he will keep his head down and try to keep his place in Quique Sanchez Flores' side when Sevilla come to the capital.

"The truth is that it's been a strange week," he told his club's website. "The media are talking about me, but now more than ever I have to be quiet and take the opportunity I have been given.

"If I play on Saturday it will not be my first time at the Vicente Calderon, because I have played there twice. It would be great to be back in the starting line-up and face a great team like Sevilla.

"I am working hard to be among the 11 but the manager has not said anything yet. If I play, he will play me where he thinks I am better suited. I don't put any importance on where I am played, the important thing is to be there among the eleven, regardless of which position."

On the pitch, Flores' notoriously inconsistent side sit ninth, a point behind Saturday's opposition Sevilla - who beat them 2-0 in last season's Copa del Rey final - and four off the European qualifying spots.

"Sevilla is a direct rival of us and there's much at stake for both teams so we have to go out to win from the start," said Koke.

"Also, the final of the cup is very recent in our minds, we have a thorn in our side from that game and want to try to compensate for that defeat."

Atletico will be without out-of-sorts striker Diego Forlan, who has a sprained left ankle, but Elias may be available after resolving work permit issues.

Sevilla need to pick themselves up following this week's European exit, when victory in Porto was not enough to stop them crashing out of the Europa League last-32 stage on away goals.

They will give fitness tests to Martin Caceres and goalkeeper Andres Palop.



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