Zinedine Zidane admits Real Madrid thought “we already had the tie sewn up”, ahead of their defeat to Juventus last season.
Los Merengues won 3-0 in Turin in the Champions League quarter-final, but it took a last-gasp Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at the Bernabeu to see them through on aggregate after a 3-1 defeat.
“That was definitely a case of us thinking that we already had the tie sewn up,” Zidane admitted, speaking to UEFA’s official website.
Zinedine Zidane admits Real Madrid thought “we already had the tie sewn up”, ahead of their defeat to Juventus last season.
Los Merengues won 3-0 in Turin in the Champions League quarter-final, but it took a last-gasp Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at the Bernabeu to see them through on aggregate after a 3-1 defeat.
“That was definitely a case of us thinking that we already had the tie sewn up,” Zidane admitted, speaking to UEFA’s official website.
“That’s the beauty of football, even at the highest level. You have to remember that a tie is never over until it’s over, even if it looks like you have a comfortable cushion.
“You have to make sure that you avoid any loss of concentration by focusing on your game plan.”
Zidane won the competition for three years in a row, and he was asked which triumph was the most special.
“All three titles were fantastic. They were all special for different reasons.
“The first stands out because it was my first as a coach; the second was both symbolic and intense – with us facing Juventus and turning in an exceptional second-half performance.
“The third topped off my three seasons as coach of Real Madrid.”