Argentine Gustavo Del Prete, striker for Atlas in Liga MX, with a past at Pumas, celebrated this Wednesday the confidence that his compatriot Diego Cocca, the red-and-black coach, has placed in him, ahead of the duel that his team will have against the felines next Sunday.

“I has given him the confidence to play and respond on the pitch, it's important to help the team with goals and assists. Little by little I'm feeling better and I'd like that to be reflected in the results," he explained in a press conference.

With Cocca, who is in his second term as Atlas coach, Del Prete added his second start in the first six rounds of the 2025 Apertura tournament in the match against America.

"Always being in the starting lineup is important and playing wherever I play or if I have to come on as I have had to in several matches, too. I don't think too much about where I like to play or not, I like to be with the team, trying to help where I have to, to be able to contribute," he expressed.

Del Prete assured that the team is working hand in hand with Cocca to be a competitive team and improve in the standings, after the poor start to the tournament that They are in fifteenth place in the standings with six points.

He commented that one of the squad's weak points has been their defense, which has cost them 18 goals conceded in six games, the worst figure among the 18 teams in the championship.

“We are self-critical, we know what is happening to us. The team is working hard to improve its defense. It is important that we all defend, from the goalkeeper to the attackers, and it is costing us, but I am sure that with the work we are doing we will reverse it,” he indicated.

The attacker indicated that there is healthy competition between the team's forwards, a product of the good relationship that exists within the squad.

“We are having a very good, healthy competition, because we get along very well. The important thing is the connection between us, "We need to know our strengths and weaknesses, and help each other out all the time so the other team can score a goal or assist," he emphasized. Atlas will visit Pumas on Sunday in the 7th matchday, where both clubs will be looking for a win to add points and climb the table. Both teams are at the bottom of the table with six points, although the felines are in a better position, in 13th place due to a better goal difference than the Guadalajara native, who is in 15th.