Cerezo says new stadium will be ready in 18 months

Enrique Cerezo, Atletico Madrid's President, told members of the media at the club's annual Christmas dinner that one of the many challenges the club are excited about is the club's new stadium. He said, "There is one that we're particularly excited about: the new stadium. Our home will be ready in 18 months and it will consolidate our position as one of the world's big clubs"

The new stadium plan were presented in 2011 and are well underway as a replacement for the Vicente Calderon. The stadium is getting built on the site of Estadio La Peineta, an athletics stadium with one large concrete stand. Much of the stadium has been demolished while other aspects of it have been built around and incorporated into the new stadium. The cost is said to be around €200.

Photo courtesy of Cruz y Ortiz arquitectos

Photo courtesy of Cruz y Ortiz arquitectos

Photo courtesy of Cruz y Ortiz arquitectos

Cerezo also went on to praise the current squad, "We're doing well on the pitch at the moment. We have some magnificent players. I've spent 30 years at this club, and I've never been able to say that we've had a squad as good as the one we have now. They are true professionals, wonderful people and, above all, people who you can trust."

Perhaps a hint to the media that they wanted to remain the underdogs also, "Our club accepts criticism with a view to improving. We're not interested in flattery because it weakens you and we are steadfast in our desire to build a bigger club day by day that grows as a result of its sporting success."