Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos also paid tribute to coach Zidane’s inspirational qualities after the Spanish giants were crowned kings of Europe for the 11th time.
Advertisement
“He had the fortune to coach one of the three best teams in the world – between Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona”, Atletico coach Diego Simeone said after losing his second final in three years to Madrid.
“I have now won Champions League as player, assistant and now head coach – what can I say?”
This time, it was Real Madrid instead of Atletico in the role of long-time leader giving up a late equalizer. “Rising to the dramatic moment after a quiet game for him, Ronaldo sent goalkeeper Jan Oblak the wrong way seconds after Atletico defender Juanfran had struck a post with his team’s fourth kick”.
Real Madrid were in the lead four minutes later after Bale drew another foul 35 yards from goal.
It caps a fairytale conclusion to a first season at the helm for Zinedine Zidane after he replaced Rafael Benitez in the dugout in January. “We’re going to keep fighting for our objectives and those of the club, the things that we dream of”.
“I’m happy because I’ve been part of this great club for a long time now.
It’s the club of my life, the one that made me who I am”, said Zidane.
Cristiano Ronaldo could not contain his pride after firing Real Madrid to their 11th Champions League success on Saturday, May 28 (Sunday morning, May 29) with a decisive, and pre-planned, penalty in a 5-3 shoot-out over Atletico Madrid.
With Cristiano Ronaldo clearly not match fit, Real’s win owed more to the gutsy determination of defensive midfielder Casemiro and man-of-the-match Sergio Ramos than the flair players. Congratulations to Real Madrid – once again they were superior to us, this time on penalties. I’m so proud of my teammates. “We had a good League, and we had a good European Cup”. “The blow is hard to take, but we’ll get up. For seven years now I’m scoring more than 50 goals every year, but I am always asking more from myself”.
Advertisement
“The club, the fans have been incredible on this journey and they deserve it”.
