Source: Team_Talk
De Gea aware of Zamora threat
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea is wary of the threat posed by Fulham striker Bobby Zamora in Wednesday's Europa League final.[LNB] The 29-year-old has had a breakthrough season with Fulham and still hopes to be fit to face the Spaniards in Hamburg despite a long-standing Achilles injury.[LNB]Such has been his form this term he is even expected to be named by Fabio Capello in England's provisional 30-man World Cup squad.[LNB]That has not escaped the attention of De Gea, who is wary of the threat posed by the Cottagers on the break - and Zamora in particular.[LNB]He told Marca: "They are very physical and will have to defend very well to stop us scoring and I will have to be very careful to stay on my game.[LNB]"In addition Zamora is a great player and I'll have to be aware of him."[LNB]At the start of the season, De Gea, 19, could not have imagined he would have a pair of finals to look forward to.[LNB]Coach Abel Resino had brought in Sergio Asenjo from Real Valladolid as one of his highest-profile summer signings.[LNB]But their poor early-season form meant Resino was shown the door, replaced by Quique Sanchez Flores, while 20-year-old Asenjo's errors saw him replaced in the first team by De Gea.[LNB]The campaign has been on the whole disappointing for Atletico, as they failed in the Champions League and will finish the Primera Division season in a relatively lowly ninth.[LNB]The silver lining though is a pair of cup finals, on Wednesday against Fulham and a week later against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, giving De Gea plenty to be proud of at such an early stage in his career.[LNB]"I don't know if this is the season of my life, but it is so far, because it's been very good in that I played in the Primera Division," he said.[LNB]"Playing finals is a dream and hopefully we can win both.[LNB]"This was unthinkable when the season started, because I didn't play much for the team, but I knew that by working and struggling I would have a chance, and I had to seize it."[LNB]Atletico have not won a major title since their league and cup double in 1996.[LNB]"A final is always special, but this is still more so because it's a long time that the club has not won a title and we want to do, so let's go for the two competitions," said De Gea.[LNB]"I don't remember much about the double, but I've seen a lot of videos and pictures and hopefully it will be repeated because it was a very big party."[LNB]While things have got better and better for De Gea, injury was added to insult for Asenjo on Saturday when, in a rare start in the 1-1 draw against Sporting Gijon, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.[LNB]He is due to undergo surgery tomorrow and is expected to be sidelined for around six months.
