Football
Adriana Garcia 8y

Atletico Madrid aren't owed a UCL title - Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez

Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez has said that Champions League football does not owe a title to Atletico Madrid.

The Rojiblancos were just seconds away from lifting their first European title in 2014 when a last-gasp goal from Sergio Ramos sent the game to extra time and Real Madrid ended up winning, 4-1.

Then last season, Atletico fell in a penalty shootout to Real Madrid in the title game.

But ahead of his team's Champions League game at Atletico Madrid, Martinez said there is no room for sentimentality in football.

"Football never owes you anything. It doesn't give you any gifts. You have to go year by year, one game at a time game as Simeone says," Martinez told Cadena Ser. "In football, you cannot live in the past.

"Atletico are not the only club to have lost big games that are difficult to digest."

He said the game owes no debt to Diego Simeone's side just because they lost two of their last three European Cup finals to Real Madrid.

Bayern suffered three straight eliminations by Spanish teams -- Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico -- in the semifinal stages in their last three seasons under former Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

Winners of the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal, Bayern drew 2-2 but lost on away goals to Atletico last season.

"We have been in that position as well, to suffer tough losses, and we want to make amends," Martinez said. "Bayern want to reach the final and win it.

"We know winning the Champions League is very difficult. There are many factors that have to go your way."

Martinez said Atletico will pose problems for his side this week.

"Atletico have great quality players," he said. "They have proved in recent years that they compete at the top. They are dangerous.

"Their strength is the group."

Martinez, playing in his fifth campaign for Bayern, is now working under Carlo Ancelotti.

The former Real Madrid coach took the helm after Guardiola left for Manchester City this summer.

"We've adapted very well to the coaching change," the 28-year-old said. "A great coach left us but another big coach arrived, which makes the transition easier.

"Although each coach follows his own book, the concepts of Guardiola and Ancelotti are very similar."

The Spain international said Guardiola taught him a lot.

"It's true what they say about Guardiola," Martinez said. "Each day you learn something from him.

"I've learned a lot and I and my teammates are not going to forget it what he taught us."

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