Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Real are kings of Europe once again

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we are doing, because I think we can win many more titles in the future.

“It is difficult to say (how long), but we need to enjoy what we are doing and we will see.

“We are at good ages, we have young players that are coming and have a lot of quality.

“This is only a positive thing for the team.”

Mario Mandzukic’s stunning strike cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s 20th-minute opener for Juventus to reach the break at 1-1.

But goals from Casemiro, Ronaldo’s second and substitute Marco Asensio rewarded an outstandin­g second-half effort from Real.

And Croatia playmaker Modric, who brilliantl­y set up Ronaldo’s second goal, was quick to pay tribute to manager Zinedine Zidane.

The former France star has won the Champions League twice in his 17 months in charge and overseen Real’s first LaLiga and European Cup double since the 1957-58 season.

“If he (Zidane) can see something that we can do on the pitch, he tells us, and we are trying to do it in our best way,” Modric said.

“He said at half-time that we needed to be more aggressive, to not allow Juve to keep the ball easily like they did in first half after our goal.

“We dropped back too much and it was not good for us, and the second half he changed this. It was crucial for our performanc­e in the second half.”

Zidane praised his players after becoming the first manager to retain the European title since Arrigo Sacchi accomplish­ed the feat with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.

“Nobody has won two Champions League twice in a row and we did it,” Zidane said. “We can say that it is a historic day for everyone at Real Madrid, for me, for the players, for our families.

“But at the same time we know that next year is going to be much more difficult and we will have to work harder.”

Juventus’ defeat was the seventh time they had lost in the final - a competitio­n record.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon turns 40 during next season’s competitio­n and defender Andrea Barzagli was 36 last month.

But Juve boss Massimilia­no Allegri said it was not the end of the road for his side.

“No I don’t think Juve has reached the end of a cycle at all,” Allegri said.

“Buffon will still be goalie next season and Barzagli with be with us for another year.

“They still have lots to give this club. But we can improve the team.”

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