“Torres starts against Madrid.” At his press conference on Tuesday, Diego Simeone confirmed the news that many Atlético fans wanted to hear. Fernando Torres will be in Atlético’s starting XI to face Real Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderón on Wednesday.

Simeone said: “Torres came after training with Milan. He had already played ten league games there. He has spent several days working with us and tomorrow he will start playing. If I did not see him with strength, with the potential to break opposing defences, I would not count on him.

“He has different characteristics to the others in our group and he will enhance our attack. I have great memories of him of when he was young - I got on very well with him when I was here before and at Atlético now there are players with a sense of belonging.

“He has arrived at one of the best Atlético Madrid sides in history and the supporters are behaving in an extraordinary way. The presentation with 45,000 supporters the other day was thrilling. We feel that we can compete for everything – for La Liga, for the Champions League and for the Copa del Rey. For everything.”

Simeone was also quizzed on other topics:

Keylor Navas: “Several months ago I pointed out that Casillas was the best at Madrid and many laughed. But he has recovered his starting berth, he is a goalkeeper who has a great history at the club and he has always had great results against Atlético. Keylor Navas is a great goalkeeper, he is doing well and he will need to establish his class.”

The squad: “I don’t close the doors on anything, this is football and it is ever changing. Caminero, Berto and their team are working so that we can have the best options to compete.”

Midfield: “When Madrid attack they do so with a 4-3-3, but they defend with a 4-4-2. They will be a strong and tough opponent. With a great coach.”

The absence of Modric: “It’s true, but they went many games unbeaten and that (the injury) allowed them to give Isco the chance to grow and have more continuity.”

Luis Enrique: “I don’t think about what happens elsewhere. What I hope is that we can work as best as we can.”