Raúl García, former player of Atlético Madrid, reminisced about the matches against Real Madrid ahead of the upcoming Madrid derby. "Both Sergio Ramos and Pepe were players who wanted to win and were competitive, just like me. You have to be strong and know that you are competing, but without crossing a line. They were beautiful games, and afterwards, when they ended, everything stayed on the field and we enjoyed it," said the former midfielder in an interview with Marca. "It was always motivating to play against them. Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world, and you want to win against the best. Facing rivals like Sergio or Pepe was always motivating and special for me. I was lucky to play many games against them, and there was everything. It was always special to play those matches and compete at that level," he added. Regarding his reputation as a tough player, García believes it reflects a different era of football. "The profile of players when we were playing was different from now, but it's neither better nor worse," he commented. When asked about the most memorable moment, García did not hesitate to point to the 2013 Copa del Rey final as a turning point: "In terms of importance, that game at the Bernabéu was a mental turning point. You go to their field, see it full of Atlético fans, and you manage to win a title against Real Madrid. That gives you confidence to keep winning."
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid remains central to this story.
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid remains central to this story.
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