“In the Champions League it is a step more, but I think this team must always try to play the final in the next years”.
Advertisement
“I’m happy, not just for myself; it was a team effort”, he said.
‘You want to think “Yeah we’ve given it all we’ve got, we’ve thrown the kitchen sink at it” and I don’t think they’ll be able to go home or into the changing room and say they’ve done that.
Former “Galactico” Zidane heaped praise on his players but said they had not produced the most convincing performance in edging past City 1-0 in the second leg clash.
The final will be a repeat of the 2014 meeting between the two teams – a game which Real won 4-1 after extra-time.
The Chilean lamented his side’s luck as Gareth Bale’s intended cross deflected off Fernando and looped over the helpless Joe Hart for the only goal of the tie. “It has taken a lot to get to the final, but we deserve it”.
Fullback Marcelo said Real Madrid must not think about their date with Atletico in the Champions League final as they bid to win La Liga.
The Wales forward turned and sent a high shot that struck the far post before going in, with the ball deflecting just enough off Fernando to curl toward the goal.
Madrid had a goal disallowed because defender Pepe was offside in the 36th, and Ronaldo squandered a few good opportunities to put the game out of reach.
An away goal would have turned things City’s way, and the English club nearly got it when Fernandinho’s low shot from inside the area grazed the near post in the 44th.
With City up against it, manager Pellegrini – a beaten semi-finalist with Villarreal in the 2005/2006 edition of this competition – needed a response from his side, but there were ominous signs early in the second half.
“We created more chances and were more intense”. We tried but we couldn’t do it. Madrid continued to dominate after the break, but found a second goal elusive as Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo failed to convert chances, while Bale’s header hit the crossbar. “We’ve always been behind Zidane because he is a humble person who likes to listen, and that always makes things easier”.
“Real Madrid showed their experience”.
Advertisement
City’s chances of shutting out Madrid were stung when their influential captain Vincent Kompany limped off the pitch with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the ninth minute, capping a frustrating season overshadowed by injuries for the centre back.
