Exclusive: Mallorca Gave Everything For Atletico Madrid Point - Dudu Aouate

This was a match that summed up the tale of two football clubs. As the full time whistle blew at the Vicente Calderon stadium signalling the end of a dramatic game, Real Mallorca’s players, the few that still remained, celebrated with a joy not seen in these parts for quite some time.

The club, making their best start to a season in over a decade, are already in a European spot and are slowly hoisting themselves into a Champions League place. 

By contrast Atletico Madrid’s players couldn’t get off the pitch quick enough, as they languish in the relegation zone. Meanwhile on the terraces all around, angry fans threw their arms up in disbelief, turned the air blue with colourful language, jeered and booed the performance and hurled their square red cushions as far in front of them as they would go.

Many gathered outside the VIP gates post match to voice their anger over the way the club has been managed, and were watched over by a small but powerful police presence.

The game may have ended in a 1-1 draw, but after 27 minutes Mallorca were reduced to ten men when Josemi was given his marching orders. Ivan Ramis then saw red on 50 minutes and Mallorca were down to nine men. Forlan duly gave Atletico the lead after finally converting a penalty, (he missed one in the first half) but the Balearic Islanders had the last laugh with a Borja Valero equaliser on 90 minutes.  

While Atletico nursed wounded pride at being unable to beat a team with only nine players, Mallorca can look ahead to a deserved rest over the weekend. And Dudu Aouate says the team were determined not to lose as he spoke exclusively to Goal.com.  

“To play with nine against Atletico is a very difficult. But we gave everything in this game. It was important for us because we have already lost two games this season.” 

Mallorca’s performance has put the team in a high flying position, marking one of their most positive starts to a La Liga campaign, and Aouate believes that they are able to put together a good run because the team is nicely balanced. 

“We are a good team. Our key is that we have a blend of young players and also experienced players, but we just want to take it game by game and make progress as much as we can,” he explained.

Aouate makes light of the fact that Mallorca’s achievements this season so far are even more remarkable given that the club have big financial issues off the pitch.  

“Yes we all know that we have big problems but look, we are players and for us we like to play. When we go out onto the pitch we are not thinking of anything else other than the game and to work hard.” 

Its only eight games played so far for both these teams to say how the season will pan out. On Monday Quique Sanchez Flores bustles in to officially take over at the helm of Atletico and to instil confidence and inspiration into his new players.  

As for Mallorca? Well according to Aouate, the club are happy to enjoy the giddy height amongst the elite at the top of La Primera, but he feels its still early days to be talking about qualifying for Europa League or Champions League football. 

“We are thinking about staying in the first division... that is our target," he affirmed.

"And our second aim is that if things are good, then maybe we can think beyond that. My aim is always to get the next three points and maybe in time we can think about European or Champions League football.”

Ashish Sharma, Goal.com