Roberto Fernández, Espanyol forward, has expressed his enthusiasm for the next match against Atlético de Madrid, scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the RCDE Stadium. The player, who recently received a call-up to the Spanish national team due to the call of Luis de la Fuente, was especially motivated when facing a team that remains his childhood favorite, Atlético, where his idol FernandoTorres played for many years.
During an interview with MD, Fernández recalled how FernandoTorres became his reference model. "I haven't had the opportunity to meet him, I wish, I would love to. And ask him what he takes to be this strong," he commented with humor. He added that his first memory of Torres was at Euro 2008, when he scored the decisive goal in the final, and that since then he has followed his career, from the group stage to the World Cup and his time at Chelsea and Atlético. “From there I have continued watching him, then the World Cup, at Chelsea, at Atlético when he returns… He is an idol for me,” he said.
Despite the admiration, Fernández clarified that he does not share physical traits with the former forward, but he is inspired by his style of play. “At the field level I always looked at his way of attacking spaces, his speed of definition… Physically I think we even measure the same,” he explained. As for Espanyol coach Manolo González, the forward suggested that he could become the “Cholo” of the club. "Why not? He has the parakeet feeling inside him. He knows the club, the kids from the quarry, he knows everything. And he is one of the few coaches who can feel Espanyol, why not?" he commented.
In relation to Saturday's match, Fernández described Atlético as a "difficult opponent, one of the best in LaLiga, one where you have to do perfect things to win." He pointed out that in recent years the team has had a good performance at home and that Espanyol needs “victory no matter what” to avoid losing points that are already slipping away. The forward concluded that the objective is to achieve victory and consolidate the team's position in the table.