Guillem Balague says Atletico Madrid should not underestimate Fulham in the Europa League final.
Forlan and co must not dismiss Fulham lightly, says Guillem
Spanish expert Guillem Balague says Atletico Madrid could be in for a shock if they underestimate Fulham in Wednesday's Europa League final.
The Cottagers are aiming to win their first major piece of silverware in Hamburg and Balague told
Sky Sports News that Roy Hodgson's outfit have every chance if Atletico go into the match over-confident.
"There is a very good point being made by not only Sir Alex Ferguson but all of the Spanish players playing in the Premier League, which is that people are underestimating Fulham," said Balague.
"It is very clear that is the case. In Madrid they are almost celebrating before the final takes place.
"But Atletico Madrid feel that if they play the way they have in the big games in recent weeks then they are favourites.
"It is a much more solid side than it was in the past with a back four that seems more confident, with players up front in Diego Forlan and Kun Aguero that can score at any time.
"But it is a huge jump from feeling favourites and that excessive confidence that they seem to have at the moment."
Work
Former Manchester United striker Forlan, who has been named in Uruguay's 26-man preliminary World Cup squad, struck a crucial blow against Liverpool in the semi-final at Anfield but Balague said he may well have as much work to do defensively as in outright attack.
"He's won the European golden boot twice in that period - with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. Last year he was the best goalscorer and this year he has struggled like everybody else," he said.
"Although he is capable of scoring he just started the season really poorly; I think it was down to the fact that he realised they weren't going to get the targets that were expected at the beginning of the season - the Champions League etc.
"They defended badly, there were individual mistakes, they got rid of the manager. Quique Sanchez Flores came in and one of the things he tried to do was get Forlan to regain some confidence and he has done so.
"But Forlan has got to work so hard, he's like the first defender when they lose the ball. That's going to be key against Fulham - they try to put pressure on the opposition as soon as they lose the ball and Forlan is part of that job.
"But then he doesn't have the energy to do absolutely everything which is why you don't see him scoring as much but he is crucial next to someone he understands very well - Kun Aguero."
Settled
Forlan has notched 19 La Liga goals this season in comparison to Aguero's 12, but Balague believes that it is the Argentinian's ability to score out of nothing that makes him a possible target for English clubs.
"He is one of those players," said Balague. "I did think that at this stage we'd be talking about him as one of the top five players in the world but he is at a club that is crazy and as such he hasn't been able to settle.
"He arrived from Argentina three years ago and he did struggle - he didn't have his family around him. But now he has, he has a baby of course, he's in love with his partner who is Maradona's daughter. That has settled him.
"He feels now he is an important player. He is capable of producing those moments that can change a game completely so much so that the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea have got him in their sights as a future signing.
"He has stated very clearly that if it makes sense for Atletico Madrid he will leave in the summer. The club says 50 million Euros is the buyout clause - come and get him.
"Nobody is going to pay that money but if they are happy with £35m then City and Chelsea may try and he is happy to go as well."
