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> What next for Zidane and his all-conquering Los Merengues?
NO SOONER had Real Madrid got their hands on European Cup at Cardiff on Saturday night than club president Florentino Perez’s thoughts immediately turned to winning it next season too. “This is the starting point to win it next season and to keep breaking records and making history,” he told Spanish television. Asked about renewing the contract of coach Zinedine Zidane he added: “We are going to talk to him. He is the one who conducts this orchestra. When something works you don’t touch it.” So great was Real Madrid’s achievement of becoming the first team to retain the Champions League that even Barcelona paper Mundo ran with the headline on its front page. was front page while fellow Madrid-based paper went with in honour of the club’s 12th European Cup. It was a night when Real Madrid had won all the individual battles. Gonzalo Higuain had two attempts on goal but neither really troubled Keylor Navas.
In contrast Cristiano Ronaldo had scored twice on the night in the 4-1 win.
Likewise Juventus’ Brazilian wingback Dani Alves had faded in the second half while Real Madrid’s Marcelo had grown in confidence setting-up the fourth goal.
Real Madrid substitute Marco Asensio had come on and scored while Juventus substitute Juan Cuadrado had come on and got sentoff.
For Ronaldo the win was made even more special because he had become the first player to score in three Champions League finals and because this final had arguably been his best.
He scored when Manchester United beat Chelsea in 2008 and he got the fourth when Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra-time in 2014.
He was also on the winning side last season but this time he was manof-the-match with his brace.
“I have had a spectacular end to the season,” he said of the very deliberate attempt to have him rest midseason and peak for the last few games.
He added: “I prepared for it. You win the big things at the end of the season. It was very intelligent from the coach and from the people that work with me.”
Ronaldo’s double meant he finished up as the tournament’s leading scorer for the fifth season running having scored five goals against Bayern Munich over two legs in the quarterfinals, three against Atletico Madrid in the semifinals and two against Juventus.
Despite the euphoria that engulfed the team on the final whistle there are still doubts over the future of some of the players going into next season.
Forward Alvaro Morata who came on in the second half was asked if he was staying at the club.
He said: “I don’t know. It doesn’t depend so much on me. I am very happy here and right now I just want to enjoy the celebrations.”
While Keylor Navas was praised post-game by president Perez, the president was also asked about David de Gea – who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer.
Perez said: “He is a great goalkeeper who plays for Manchester United. Next year I don’t know where he will be.” – dpa