Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Zidane: We are not favourites
ZINEDINE Zidane does not think Real Madrid are favourites in their Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid, despite his side holding the upper hand in recent meetings with their city rivals.
Tonight’s first leg at the Bernabeu sees the two teams meet in the competition for the fourth successive year. Real have won on all three previous occasions, including in two finals in 2014 and 2016 as well as a quarter-final in between.
“We’re not favourites. It’s 50-50, as it always is in the knockout stages,” said Zidane.
“We know each other very well. The rivalry with Atleti hasn’t changed since I was a player. It’s a derby in the capital. It’s intense, but the rivalry remains the same.
“We need to do everything well tonight. If we do, then we’ll see.
“We have to prove we are good enough.
“We will do everything in our power to win tonight’s game and we can’t think about the return leg yet.
“To make it through to the semi-finals means you have done a very good job. We hope to go another step further.
“Atletico Madrid in the last four or five years have been very good, they get better every year and they are a tough test. We find them tough rivals.
“Atletico never give in, they keep fighting and they know what their strengths are. They are very good at getting the best out of their side.
“But let’s see, we have got plenty of strengths too and we want to focus on our game plan.”