Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Atletico Madrid inspired by last year's UCL final agony - Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres believes the pain of last season's Champions League final loss is spurring Atletico Madrid on in this year's competition.

Atletico were 1-0 up on Real Madrid when Sergio Ramos headed a 93rd-minute equaliser, and an exhausted Colchoneros team lost 4-1 in extra time.

Speaking to Marca ahead of Wednesday's round of 16 first leg at Bayer Leverkusen, Torres said: "To lose a final is very hard, to lose a Champions League final maybe more, and the way it was lost even harder.

"There could not be a worse experience. They are the ones who know how much it took to get there, the effort they made and how close they were, so the motivation has to be even bigger this year.

"They want to remove that thorn from their foot, and the only way to do that is to get back there again."

Torres, at Chelsea at the time of the final, returned to Atletico -- where he became a fans' hero as a teenager -- on loan in January, and said he faced a fight for playing time with Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann.

"This is what has made the group able to be champions of Spain, reach the Champions League final and compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid," he explained.

"You must keep your best level. Mario and Antoine are in excellent form, and every time the ball goes up to them you feel it will be a goal."

Speaking after Saturday's 3-0 win over Almeria, Atletico coach Diego Simeone said he had started negotiations over a new contract, easing fears that he could be enticed away from the club.

Atletico midfielder Tiago told AS: "We listen to talk about him renewing in the press. I believe there is talk of five years -- we'd like it be 10. All the fans are also very happy with the boss."

He said that whether Simeone stayed at Atletico long-term was "a matter for the boss and the club," but added: "We should not get distracted.

"This is a very important period of the season. After three months waiting for this game in the Champions League, we know the importance it has."

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