The Metropolitano stadium paid an emotional tribute to club captain Koke following the death of his mother, Ana Merodio Borja, hours before Atlético de Madrid’s Champions League fixture.
An Emotional Evening at the Metropolitano
Atlético de Madrid secured their fifth victory across all competitions by defeating their opponents on a night charged with emotion in the capital. The venue observed a minute of silence before the opening whistle, with manager Diego Simeone visibly moved to tears during the tribute.
Players and Fans Honor the Captain
Teammates on the pitch dedicated key moments of the match to their absent captain. Midfielder Pablo Barrios celebrated a first-half goal by pointing to the number six on his jersey. Later in the match, Marcos Llorente held up one of Koke’s shirts after teammate Ademola Lookman scored the second goal. As the final whistle blew, supporters in the stands chanted the midfielder’s name during the traditional post-match lap of honor.
Reactions from the Squad
Teammate Johnny Cardoso reflected on the emotional weight of the fixture. “Besides being a very important athlete for us, he is a great person; he helped me a lot when I arrived here last season,” Cardoso said. “We miss him, we know it is a very difficult moment, and we are with him and his family. We will help him get through this.”
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak, wearing the captain’s armband in Koke’s absence, noted the difficulty of the occasion. “Today is a very difficult day for the whole team, but above all for Koke,” Oblak said. “We send him a lot of encouragement. It is something so sad that has happened that it even appears when you play football, which normally helps you get through difficult moments.”
Manager Diego Simeone addressed the emotional atmosphere surrounding the squad. “The loss of a family member, more so of a footballer as important as Koke, hurts very much,” Simeone said.
Manchester United Sends Condolences
The football community offered support from outside the club. Manchester United issued a public statement addressing the loss. “The Manchester United deeply regrets the passing of Ana Merodio Borja, beloved mother of Atlético de Madrid captain Koke and under-19 team assistant coach Borja Resurrección,” the club stated. “We offer our condolences to the family at this very difficult time and invite fans to join both teams in a minute of silence before tonight’s kickoff.”
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