Jupp revels in Real life, not the past
JUPP HEYNCKES recalled fond memories of leading Real Madrid to a Champions League win 20 years ago – but Bayern Munich’s boss was adamant he has no interest in looking back as he prepares to tackle old foe Zinedine Zidane again.
On the eve of the first leg of Bayern’s semi-final against the club who once sacked him, the 72-year-old reflected only briefly on coaching Madrid to a 1-0 win over a Juventus side featuring Real’s current manager Zidane in 1998.
“I have many memories in my head from the Amsterdam Arena against Juventus with Zinedine Zidane, Filippo Inzaghi and Didier Deschamps, and it was a nervous finale with five minutes of added time,” said Heynckes.
“It was a fantastic feeling when the whistle went and Real were European champions again for the first time in 32 years.”
Yet that was Heynckes’ only nod to nostalgia. He was sacked by Real eight days after that match, paying the price for their domestic failures that season.
Tonight’s game should be Heynckes’ last European night at the Allianz Arena – he will be replaced as manager next season by Niko Kovac – and he said: “Real are a worthy opponent for every coach and player. For a coach who’s old, it is something exceptional for me to have the privilege of another semi-final. To play against Real as well is great.”
Zidane warned Bayern are better than they were last season, when the Spaniards beat them en route to the Champions League title.
Real have won back-to-back titles but Bayern have been in sensational form ever since Heynckes took over from Carlo Ancelotti in October. They have already secured the Bundesliga title and have also reached the German Cup final. “They have been transformed under him,” said Zidane of Heynckes. “I have maximum respect for him.”
Heynckes is on a record 12-game winning run in the Champions League stretching back to 2013, when he won the title with Bayern before ‘retiring’.
“I don’t think there are any favourites,” said Zidane. “It is completely different to last season. We can’t compare the two.” MICHAEL OLIVER, who was subjected to abuse on social media after giving Real Madrid a last-gasp penalty in their Champions League quarter-final with Juventus, will referee next month’s FA Cup final between Manchester United and Chelsea.
Oliver, 33, awarded the disputed spot-kick before also sending off Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for his furious protests. Following the fallout from the tie, which the Spaniards won after Cristiano Ronaldo converted the kick, both Oliver and his wife Lucy were targeted by social media trolls.
“I was very humbled to receive the call. When you start out, the FA Cup final is not something you even think about,” said Oliver. “This opportunity only comes around once in a referee’s career.”