Atletico defender Marc Pubill says there is ‘no fear’ of Mbappe and Vinicius

Marc Pubill insists Atletico de Madrid will not be intimidated by Real Madrid’s attacking stars when the two sides meet in a crucial La Liga derby.

The Atletico defender acknowledged the quality of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, but said his side believes it has the strength to compete and will fight for victory.

“They are great players and they have an excellent team, but we are also a great team,” Pubill told Spanish newspaper Marca. “We will fight on the pitch to beat them… but no, there is no fear.”

The meeting with Real Madrid represents a significant test in the race for the La Liga title. Pubill said the derby was undoubtedly a special occasion, although he rejected the idea that it should be treated differently from every other league fixture.

“It is certainly a special match, but it is still a match like any other and it gives us three more points,” he said.

Pubill has also been reflecting on Atletico’s elimination from the Champions League semi-finals and whether winning the competition has become an obsession for the club.

“Yes, I think it is the trophy everyone wants, and we are always fighting to win it. That is what we will try to achieve this season,” he said.

Atletico’s exit was especially painful after they had eliminated a major contender such as Barcelona and produced an excellent performance in the semi-final.

“Yes, especially because we played very well in the semi-final and were very close,” Pubill said. “But we were missing small details that made the difference, and perhaps that is why the pain was greater.”

The defender was also asked about the intense media coverage surrounding Julian Alvarez during the summer. Pubill said the situation had been felt inside Atletico’s dressing room just as it had appeared from the outside, while praising the Argentina forward’s ability.

“We experience it inside the dressing room exactly as it is seen from the outside. Julian is a wonderful and extremely special player, and we are fortunate to have him with us,” he said.

“We will all enjoy playing with him and help him. We hope he gives us everything he has because he is a world-class player.”

Pubill said he had dreamed of becoming a key player in matches of this magnitude after watching Atletico’s 5-2 defeat last season from outside the team.

“Yes, definitely. I dreamed of being a leading figure in matches like these, and of doing so at an early stage,” he said.