Diego Forlan: What it’s like when the goals dry up, Suarez the warrior and the benefits of pressing for a striker

Diego Forlan played for both Manchester United and Atletico Madrid.

At United, who he joined in January 2002, he was an emerging striker who’d made a name for himself at Independiente in Argentina but struggled to score during his two and a half years in English football. By the time he moved to Atletico in the summer of 2007 (from fellow Spanish side Villarreal) he’d won the European Golden Boot (he’d earn it again at Atletico), ditto the Pichichi as La Liga top scorer — another individual feat he’d repeat at Atletico.

The Uruguayan spoke to The Athletic before Tuesday night’s Champions League last-16 second leg between United and Atletico at Old Trafford, after the sides drew 1-1 in Spain last month.

How does a striker deal with not scoring goals?

When I didn’t score, I practised more. It’s not good to be obsessed, that’s not positive. But for me, practice gave me more confidence.

What type of practice?

Finishing. Also, your first touch when you receive the ball — that’s as important as finishing for strikers, because if you have a good first touch you are giving yourself more time. That time can be used to see how you will shoot and where to aim the ball. The result will then be much better.

Are team-mates aware of it when you’re practising more in private?

They know — especially if you stay behind after training, like I used to. It’s not something you do to show you are trying, but because of the reasons I explained. But when you become a professional footballer, your priority is to be fit, rested and ready when the time comes. They are the basics, your priorities, but to get to that level you have to practise, practise, practise and the more you do that, the better player you are going to be.