Real’s top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo recovered from a hamstring injury to face City, and Zidane ruled out resting the prolific Portuguese against Valencia with the Champions League final in mind.
Advertisement
The former Tottenham Hotspur star, who is on course to lift his second UEFA Champions League trophy in three years, has revealed that he joined the Santiago Bernabeu club in order to win European trophies.
“Tonight and in the Etihad we saw two very equal teams, the difference was minimal”.
“It was a special season because we got to the semi-finals and that was important for our team”.
The La Liga giants took the lead early on when Fernando scored an own goal after Gareth Bale’s cross deflected off his leg. Also, let us know what you think by commenting below or by using the #FCdebate hashtag on Twitter. They were incredible today and helped us in tough moments. Atletico eliminated AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea when it made it to the final in 2014, and this year it got past PSV Eindhoven and again Barcelona before beating Bayern Munich. “It is them that allow you to win in football”.
“The final against Real Madrid is 50-50, we both know each other well”, Simeone told Radio La Red. The hosts had a flawless record in this season’s competition, winning all six home games and outscoring opponents 19-0. “We can expect the same kind of game, and hopefully the same result”.
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.
“It doesn’t matter who scores or whether it’s an own goal or not”, the attacker added. Now more than half of Europe is Atletico Madrid!
City boss Manuel Pellegrini claimed neither side deserved to progress but it was hard to deny Real were not the better team.
“I don’t think we were lucky”. Manchester City’s Joe Hart pulled brilliant saves throughout the match, particularly those of Ronaldo, Modric and Bale. I suffer a bit more as a coach than I did as a player.
Advertisement
“We could easily be in the final, but they managed the game well”, Hart said.
