Atletico Madrid midfielder Augusto Fernandez says that he cannot deny that cruel disappointment late in the 1974 European Cup final against Bayern Munich is acting as an extra motivating factor as the teams prepare to meet in this year's Champions League semifinals.
Atletico legend Luis Aragones put his side 1-0 ahead in extra-time against Bayern in the 1974 decider at Brussels' Heysel Stadium, and his side seemed sure to win their first ever European Cup as the game moved into its 120th minute.
But Bayern defender Hans Georg Schwarzenbeck's 35-yard speculative shot went past an apparently distracted Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Reina to equalise, and four days later Bayern won the replay, 4-0. Thus began the much talked about Las Pupas curse, a jinx and millstone which has dogged Atletico through much of the following four decades.
Even after Diego Simeone took over as coach at Christmas 2011 and guided Atletico to the Europa League, Copa del Rey and La Liga titles, disaster struck again late during the 2014 Champions League final when Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos equalised in the 93rd minute and Los Blancos won easily in extra-time.
At an open media day ahead of Bayern's visit to the Estadio Vicente Calderon for Wednesday's UCL first leg, the former Celta Vigo midfielder was asked if people at the club saw the tie as a chance for revenge for that 1974 disappointment.
"To deny that would be to deny reality," Fernandez said. "It would be a bit hypocritical and I'm not like that. I know the dream and the needs of the fans. We are the same. We will work as hard as we can and try and get the best out of it. We know we are not favorites, but we will do everything to go through."
. @augusto12f: "Trataremos de potenciar nuestra manera de jugar para superar al @FCBayern". #AtletiFCB #UCL pic.twitter.com/AhlNazj09u
- Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) April 25, 2016
Bayern being drawn against Atletico also lead many Colchonero fans and pundits to recall criticism of the club's style of play from the Bavarian side's president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge through recent years.
Earlier this season Rummenigge suggested it was unfair that a big club like Juventus was eliminated early while Atletico remained in the competition, while last year he claimed that "Atletico are a team who take the joy and fun out of football."
Reporters at the Wanda Atletico de Madrid Training Complex outside the Spanish capital on Monday also wanted to know what Fernandez thought of such opinions from the Bayern club chief.
"I've been taught that everyone is free to express their opinions, and must be respected," the Argentina international replied diplomatically. "And I do. You can agree or not. There are different ways of playing, different styles, in football. Bayern have their style and we have our own."
The former Germany striker was more polite when speaking when the two teams were drawn to meet this year, following Atletico's elimination of Barcelona in the quarterfinals.
"It's a difficult draw," Rummenigge said then. "We have huge respect for the team that just knocked out the holders."