Zizou has no jitters for Juventus
Real manager insists Turin ties won’t affect him in European showdown
MADRID — Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane insists he won’t be nervous or have any divided loyalties in the Champions League final against his old club, Juventus, on June 3 in Cardiff.
Real will appear in its second straight final after withstanding a first-half onslaught from Atletico Madrid to progress 4-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-1 in Wednesday’s semifinal second leg.
Zidane — nicknamed ‘Zizou’ — ditched Juventus for a then world-record fee when he joined Real as a player in 2001.
“For sure it is special because it was a very important club for me as a player. It is a club that also gave me everything,” Zidane said of the Turin club.
“But now I am with Real Madrid, the club of my life ... and it will be a great final.”
Zidane said ahead of December’s last-16 draw that Juventus was the team he wanted to avoid due to his respect for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, which eased past Monaco 4-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal
“I can’t do anything about it now,” added Zidane.
“They have got to the final and deserve to be there, as do we.”
Ultimately, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-leg hat-trick proved the difference as for the fourth straight season Real eliminated Atletico from the tournament.
Atletico had threatened an incredible comeback, thanks to Saul Niguez’s powerful header and Antoine Griezmann’s penalty inside 16 minutes, which cut Real’s aggregate lead to one goal.
However, Isco’s away goal just before halftime settled Real’s nerves and left Atletico with too steep a hill to climb.
“We knew they would start very strongly,” said Ronaldo. “They had the luck to score two goals, but we knew that if we scored it would kill them.
“They played well, but we have more experience. That was the difference.”
Real can now make history by becoming the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.
However, Zidane preferred to highlight the strength of his squad rather than his own role in a remarkably successful run since he took his first senior managerial job 17 months ago.
“I am delighted. I am the coach, which means I am doing something right, but everyone in this squad is doing a phenomenal job.
“The players should get the credit because it is they who are playing, running, fighting on the field.”
Real was without the injured Gareth Bale for both legs of the semifinal, but Zidane is hopeful the Welshman will be fit for a homecoming final in his native city.
“At the moment Gareth is recovering ... we have time,” said the coach.
“I hope we will have him back before then, it is better that he plays a little bit.”
Simeone’s pride
Despite the disappointment of once again bowing out to Real, Atletico boss Diego Simeone beamed with pride at his side’s performance.
“I am very happy and proud that once again we have shown why we are competing at the top level just behind Real Madrid and Barcelona,” said the Argentine.
“When we said that we believed we could come back, some thought it was just words.”
Atletico was inspired by a sensational atmosphere in its final Champions League game at Vicente Calderon Stadium before moving to the new 67,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano next season.
“The atmosphere was one of those magical moments in the Calderon that will live in people’s memories forever.,” said Simeone.
Atletico could struggle to hang to the likes of Griezmann, who is being linked with Manchester United, and Simeone during the offseason.
But the coach said the club has a bright future in its new home.
“It is clear that we still need to keep growing,” Simeone said. “That final step is still a big one and we need to keep improving. If we can improve on this, then the future is encouraging.”