Zinedine Zidane has hailed the presence of crucial first-team player and skipper Sergio Ramos after Real Madrid defeated Sevilla to lift the UEFA Super Cup in Trondheim on Tuesday.
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This, for some of Real Madrid’s stars, was seen as an opportunity to catch him off guard and deliver the traditional “gaffer soaking”.
Real looked down and out when they trailed 2-1 with one minute to go in normal time but captain Sergio Ramos took the match into extra-time with a last-gasp header from a cross by Lucas Vazquez in front of a crowd of 21,166.
But a foul from Ramos on Vietto with 20 minutes left handed Sevilla the ideal chance to take the lead and Yevhen Konoplyanka slotted home from the penalty spot with aplomb, a minute later.
Real laid siege to the opposition goal for most of the additional 30 minutes and Sevilla needed Rico to pull off save after save.
Helping to fill in for a Madrid side that was also missing Toni Kroos from midfield, 20-year-old Asensio staked his claim to a spot with Zidane’s team with an exquisite left-foot shot from outside the area that dipped just in time to squeeze inside the woodwork.
After drawing level, Zidane’s men took advantage of the 10-man Sevilla as Dani Carvajal made a brilliant recovery, followed by a solo run and a neat finish which sealed the tie for Real Madrid. “That’s my plan. When you have to play, play well and I am happy with the work he has done”. I’m very happy to have won the trophy. To win a trophy is always incredible.
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“You have to congratulate Sevilla on their great performance”, said the Real Madrid boss. “It will be a case of counting on those players who are 100 per cent”. The group is always the most important; it’s always been that way.”We have a good squad”, the manager said. We’ve got a great player in every position on the pitch”, he told the club’s official website. Argentine playmaker Vazquez was signed from Palermo during a close season of much change at Sevilla, who lost coach Unai Emery – the mastermind of their three consecutive Europa League triumphs – to PSG.
