Q&A with Atletico Madrid fan Juanjo Mendoza

Lifelong Atleti supporter and season-ticket holder Juanjo Mendoza gives the lowdown to our much-loved matchday programme United Review, which you can order here.

How do you feel ahead of the second leg?
"Optimistic. We're on a good run. Atleti haven't played well this year, but going to Manchester with a 1-1 first leg scoreline and with no away goals counting double gives us a lot of options. We were expecting a strong United but, honestly, I didn't think they were the better team in the first leg. Getting to the round of 16 was something of an unexpected bonus given the nature of how we qualified, so I'm also approaching the game with a lot of peace of mind.”

Describe your season so far. You seem to be hitting form, with some key players returning to fitness...
“Atleti are current La Liga champions after an odd season with the pandemic, and with games staged with no fans. But we won the league title nonetheless. This year we started as one of the favourites, but things have not gone well. We have slipped up against teams we would hope to beat: Alavés, Mallorca at home and we hit rock bottom with the 0-1 defeat at home to Levante. From that game onwards we seem to have turned things around with four solid performances against Osasuna, United, Celta and Betis. For me, there are three key players: Joao, Savic and Koke. Llorente too is starting to regain his form and we expect more from Griezmann, who is just coming back from injury.”

Tell us about your manager. He has led the club for over 10 years now – is he as popular as ever? How long do you think he will continue at Atleti?
“Absolutely. Every game the whole stadium serenades Cholo... ‘Olé Olé Olé Olé ... Cholo Simeone!’ It's rare to hear criticism in the stands, very rare! There are some murmurings when he makes unexpected changes like taking Joao off when we are chasing a game, but today Cholo is untouchable, no matter how much the media insist otherwise. Cholo will be at Atleti for as long as he wants, barring a catastrophe. He played for us; he took the team from a Europa League placing to being regulars in the Champions League. He reached two Champions League finals, won leagues, a Europa League… The trophies back him up. Simeone has given the club a stability in the dugout that the board values to such an extent that he is the best-paid coach in Spanish football. That’s why he will continue as long as he wants.”

Your new stadium is really impressive – but do you miss the Vicente Calderón?
“Of course we miss the Calderón. It was our home. Its location was more central, it had bars nearby for the pre-match, better transport links... But it was an old stadium. I'm glad about the change as moving to the Wanda has meant a leap in quality for the club and a big increase in the fanbase. If we want to be a top team on the European stage, it is essential to have a good stadium.”

Tell us about the club's support and the different fan groups.
“In Spain, Atlético fans have a reputation for making plenty of noise. We also have a reputation for being long-suffering. We are nicknamed the "pupas" (perennial underachievers). This comes from the way we lost the European Cup/Champions League finals, but we remain faithful to our colours. Not long ago we played two years in a row in the Second Division and drew bigger crowds to the Calderón than when we were in the top flight.”

What are your three best moments as an Atleti fan?
“The league-and-cup double in 1996. Especially because it was so unexpected, as that year we were not favourites for anything. And then 1992, when we won the cup against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu with goals by Futre and Schuster. My third would be winning the cup in 2013 against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, with goals by Costa and Miranda – after 25 consecutive games without beating Real Madrid!”

Tell us something about the city of Madrid that we don't know.
“The first historical evidence of the city dates back to the year 865, when Emir Muhammed I ordered the construction of a citadel in the village of Mayrit, on the banks of the Manzanares River. Mayrit means in Arabic ‘abundance of rivers of water’. We Atléticos are nicknamed ‘Indians’ because our Vicente Calderón stadium was located next to the Manzanares, and they used to say that we camped there like Indians.”

Can you tell us the words to a great Atleti chant?

“Come on, champion,
put your balls into it, we're going to win today.
I'm out of control,
I want to see you champion.
Never, never, never,
will this fanbase leave you,
that in good times and bad
never stops cheering.

I choose this one even though it reminds me of the worst moment I have ever experienced as an Atlético, which was in Lisbon 2014 [the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid]. Outside the stadium I swore to my fellow fans that I would never go back to a football stadium... and behind me, a lady chanted to me...

Never, never, never,
you will never, ever leave this fanbase,
that in good times and bad
never stops cheering.
I smiled at her and continued to suffer.”

Predict how the second leg at Old Trafford will go...
“It's sure to be a tight and cagey affair. Simeone will look to use Joao or Griezmann on the counter. If we score, we advance, and if we concede, that's when we normally see the best of Atleti. I predict a win and place for Atlético in the quarter-final.”

This interview was first published in the latest edition of United Review, prior to Tuesday’s clash with Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford.