Baena is enjoying his football more than ever, but sees room to improve

“I don’t know if this is my best moment, but it is the one I’m enjoying most,” Álex Baena says. On the eve of Atlético’s Champions League match against Bayern, the midfielder describes himself as happy with his daily routine and his football, while making clear that he does not consider his development complete.

“I’m enjoying the day-to-day, the training sessions and the matches enormously, and that shows on the pitch,” he says. Baena recalls that adapting last season was difficult, both physically and in getting used to the team. He says he never gave up on his ambition: “My wish was to succeed here and, little by little, I’m doing that.” He believes he can still contribute more and says he must keep working.

The timing adds weight to his comments. Baena appeared alongside Diego Pablo Simeone at the press conference before Atlético’s meeting with Bayern, scheduled for 3 November. Atlético head into the fourth round of the Champions League aiming to sustain the level they have shown in recent weeks and put the draw in Stuttgart behind them.

Baena also underlined the team’s collective response to Antoine’s absence. “Replacing a player like Antoine is almost impossible. We knew he would leave a big gap, but all of us are doing a great job to make his absence felt as little as possible,” he said. In his view, the group’s strength comes from working together and from players stepping up after, as he sees it, not doing so last season.

Baena described Bayern as a demanding test: one of the world’s best clubs, with outstanding players, and a chance to see how far Atlético can go in the Champions League. He noted that his team will play at home and that opponents find it difficult to take points there. “It’s a match every player wants to play,” he said.

The midfielder also spoke about the connections developing on the left. He says he understands Grimaldo well, having known him through the national team and watched Leverkusen matches, and also mentioned Lookman and Arnau. Baena believes that the fluency in that area, which he says was missing last season, has improved. He contrasted that progress with the well-established patterns on the right and said the step forward could help the team pursue major objectives.

For now, the dressing room’s focus is entirely on Bayern. Baena says the team is thinking only about that match and will turn to the weekend fixture from Wednesday.