An exhilarating Champions League campaign has come to an end, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty securing an 11th European crown for Real Madrid.
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Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, who struck in stoppage time two years ago, showed a forward’s hunger to score in the 15th minute by forcing the ball past Oblak from close range.
“That’s why I came to the biggest club in the world – to win Champions leagues but to win it is very hard”, he added.
“When you speak about the best clubs in the world you should be thinking that you are going to win important things”.
“After all the work we did I am very proud, it has been a phenomenal job”. “I’m happy because I’m a part of this great club for a long time now”. I still feel fresh – not tonight – and I want to carry on like that. We share this Champions League with the fans. If you ask me if I feel exhausted tonight, of course. That means a lot to me. In the second half we could have equalised very quickly. It’s not easy at all.
“We work hard during the season to win this fantastic trophy, so I’m so proud of my teammates, of the fans, families, of the coach”.
The pace of the match slowed and neither side really looked like winning it in extra time, with Ronaldo looking short of full-fitness but with Zidane having already used up his three substitutes.
‘I had a vision and saw I was going to score the winning goal, so I asked (Zinedine) Zidane to take the fifth penalty.
“I have scored more than 50 goals [every season] for seven years but I am always asking for more”, Ronaldo added, holding his hand up near his head.
Once a favourite at Juventus, the 43-year-old Zidane said there is now no other club in his heart.
“We had a unique opportunity to make history after a tough season”, he told realmadrid.com.
“I have no doubt that Simeone will stay with us”, said Tiago, according to Football Espana. This time, it was Real Madrid instead of Atletico that conceded a late equalizer. You have to suffer a little bit in finals, they’re a good team themselves. I don’t believe in excuses. “Now what I have to do is go back home and try to heal the wounds with the people who are always supporting me”.
“This cycle for me at Atletico, two finals in three years is, actually a marvellous achievement, but I am not happy with what I have achieved”.
“It’s a moment for me to think about things”. I do not know which hurts more, this final or the last one. If you ask me if I feel exhausted, of course. That’s what really hurts. “I’m very proud of my team-mates and we’ll continue fighting for our objectives, so we’ll keep dreaming”. We had to defeat Barcelona and Bayern (to get to the final).
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Zidane joins Miguel Munoz, Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff, Carlo Ancelotti, Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola as the only men to have won the European tournament both as a coach and a player.
