Pubill: “No fear” facing Mbappé, Vinícius, Bellingham in Madrid derby

“There is no fear whatsoever,” Atlético Madrid defender Marc Pubill stated when asked about confronting Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham in the upcoming Madrid derby.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, Pubill described the fixture against Real Madrid as “a special match, without doubt”, yet emphasized that it remains “a match like any other” — one that delivers three points toward the La Liga title race.

Pubill confirmed the significance of the encounter in the domestic championship context, noting it represents “a major challenge” in Atlético’s pursuit of the league crown. He acknowledged the emotional weight of last season’s 5–2 defeat to Real Madrid — a match he watched from outside the pitch — and said he had “dreamed of being a key part of such matches, and at an early stage.”

Champions League exit and its aftermath

When questioned about Atlético’s Champions League semi-final elimination, Pubill affirmed that the competition “is the title everyone wants”, adding that the club “always fight to be crowned with it, which is what we will try to achieve this season.”

He reflected on the manner of the exit — following a win over Barcelona — saying: “Yes, especially since we put in an excellent performance in the semi-final and were very close, but we lacked the small details that made the difference, and for that reason perhaps the pain was greater.”

Julian Alvarez and the dressing room dynamic

Pubill addressed the intense media attention surrounding Julian Alvarez during the summer transfer window. “We experience it from inside the dressing room exactly as it is seen from the outside,” he said. “Julian is a wonderful and very special player, and we are fortunate to have him with us.”

He added: “We will all enjoy playing alongside him and helping him, and we hope he gives us the very best he has, because he is a world-class player.”

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