Iker spoke to the press after today’s training session, and he talked about a variety of topics:

– on the derbi madrileño: I really don’t know why Atlético hasn’t been able to win against us in 11 years.  I played the last time it happened.  I came in for Bizzarri and I remember it well because it came about after he had been expelled.  I hope the streak continues for one more year.  It’s a game with a special sentiment.  As a madrileño, I know what it’s like.

– on Rubén de la Red: we have a fabulous relationship.  On the outside, it’s probably not known, but both Sergio and I have spoken a lot with him and with the president.  In fact, the four of us have met many times.  It’s a personal issue, and I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to talk about what I spoke with Rubén about.

– on David de Gea: he’s a kid with a fabulous progression.  He’ll bring a lot of happiness to Atlético and I hope to the national team as well.

– on the clásico: there’s still one more month to go and we both have complicated games before that.  It’s not time to start thinking about Barcelona yet, but it’s true that it’s the game of the year.  We want to go to Camp Nou as leaders.