Atletico Madrid captain Gabi credits recent success with ‘team first’ values

ATLETICO Madrid captain Gabi revealed that the ‘team first’ values instilled from the academy to the top is the secret to the club’s recent success.

Gabi Fernandez has been at Atletico since he was 12-years-old.

ATLETICO Madrid captain Gabi revealed that the ‘team first’ values instilled from the academy to the top is the secret to the club’s recent success.

The midfielder, who signed for Atletico age 12, was adamant the club can sustain title pressure on Spain’s big two for a fifth straight season.

Atletico lost a second Champions League final in three years last May, while they won the La Liga in 2014 and have been runner up several times under the Diego Simeone regime.

“I have been lucky enough to play in Atletico Madrid since I was a 12-years-old and since childhood they teach you values that when you are at the top, help you to understand the club, the team and love these colours a bit more if that’s possible,” Gabi said.

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Gabi Fernandez has been at Atletico since he was 12-years-old.

“The first values are education and team spirit. I believe you cannot reach goals without your teammates by your side, personal selfishness is not allowed, because in a team sport such as this one, personal selfishness is what leads to your downfall, so that is instilled since childhood.

“You are taught to compete as a team and the union of a team which is what always makes you stronger.

“Yes, of course, he (Simeone) preaches those same values and is the cornerstone of this great project and the great moment Atletico Madrid is living.

“Right now there are many players from the youth ranks in the first team - Fernando Torres, Óliver Torres, Saúl, Koke, Lucas, and me.

“This is important for the philosophy and that feeling, it is better communicated by people from the house than by people who come from other clubs.’’

Led by Euro 2016 golden ball and golden boot winner Antoine Griezmann and a resurgent Fernando Torres, who just signed a one-year extension, Atletico are hellbent on winning an 11th Spanish crown.

Gabi, a defensive midfielder whose style is reminiscent of Simeone, said opinions of Atletico had changed.

“We have had four very good seasons and we always think about winning (the title),’’ he said.

“We have played good football and we are fighting against Real Madrid and Barcelona, which are the leading teams here in Spain, but Atletico Madrid is now among those teams.”