Ahead of the UEFA Champions League final, a good number Barcelona players stated publicly that they preferred Atletico to win the Champions League, hoping Real Madrid do not take home anything this season.
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Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane stated that winning the Champions League was equal to lifting the World Cup in his footballing achievements.
On Juanfran’s unsuccessful penalty, Koke added: “We must encourage him”.
Entering the game, Ronaldo was the only Real Madrid player to attempt a penalty all season, but he said experience in high-pressure situations served them in Saturday’s win.
But fortune favoured Madrid in the shoot-out, leaving Navas to revel in the achievement of a lifelong goal.
“It’s been a hard year but I can thank God today for being good to me”. Unbending they remained, unfazed even when Real Madrid’s Segio Ramos got his team an early lead, indomitable till their last breath – only to see it all go to waste in the space of a missed penalty kick.
“I’m happy, I want to share these titles with all Madrid fans”.
The game headed into extra-time, but both sides failed to change the scoreline.
But substitute Yannick Carrasco’s strike from inside the six-yard box with 11 minutes remaining sent the game to extra-time, where neither side found a victor to prompt spot-kicks.
“I’m so proud to score the winning goal and to win the Champions League again”. I can not describe how it feels.
“I think that talking about Zizou is talking about humility, work, consistency, illusion, optimism and that is what he is showing since the first day he arrived and the team captured the message”, he said.
His playing career at Real is also most fondly remembered for the sensational winning goal he struck to win the 2002 Champions League final against Bayern Leverkusen. That hurts me more than anything else.
Defeat represented Atletico’s second in three years in a Champions League final, and manager Diego Simeone afterwards refused to commit his future to the club.
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“Mentally, there is a lot of pressure but you have to fight”. Obviously they gave us a great game and we’re obviously feeling a little bit sorry for them but a final is a final and you have to win.
