Asenjo: "I matured, I’m not the boy that came to Madrid"

You come to the Calderón in your best moment this season. Now or never?

We have forgotten the bad run that we had, which has been reversed. In La Liga we have had three wins in a row and we have done our work in the Europa League. Morale is high and we come to be ourselves.

Does that apply when the opponent has a style which is just as defined?

They are a team with very clear ideas, which are well done, but we must maintain our identity.

It’s what they expect, that you have the ball…

Yes, they are the team in the world which is most comfortable without the ball, and we are on the contrary. They are going to have chances, they will want to hurt us on the counter. But the key is also to match their intensity.

Last year your friend Raúl García scored and decided the match…

He is my best friend in the world of football and I am very glad about what is happening with him. I lived close to what he has fought for. When they put him in his place he has come to the level of performance that he aimed for. I was unable to speak with him, but it will be nice to see him on the pitch.

And to return to the Calderón?

Yes, for me it’s special. I am in my best moment and I lived many things there, I learned. At Villarreal the technical body have supported me, given me confidence, and I am grateful for it. I think that thanks to them you will see the best Asenjo.

And why didn’t we see him at Atlético? The injuries?

It was not only that. I am no longer the 20-year-old boy that arrived in Madrid. I have matured and it was not easy. In February it will be four years since I sustained a knee injury. I do not want to erase what happened at Atlético. It is a pleasure to return to see the stadium and the fans.

At least you won’t see Diego Costa…

Look at the figures recorded by Mario Mandzukic. They are very good. He is a completely different player, but he gives them other things. He is like oxygen for Atlético. He works, he holds the ball up to allow the second line to arrive...

Does seeing Moyá as a starter make you regret your decision?

It was hard for me to recover and I deserved to play again. It was a difficult decision, but Villarreal took a chance on me. I was right and I am smiling again. I came to a young and ambitious team. The goal is to produce a similar campaign to last year...

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