The Madrid has met at the beginning of November with a final in Europe, a match against the I
nter of Milan in Valdebebas in which the two teams, on paper the favorites in the group after the draw, play a good part of their continuity in the Champions League. Zidane looks worried: “Every game we have is a final and this one too. We always want to show that we are good and that we want more ”.
After two last years eliminated in the round of 16, Zidane was very clear when asked if his team had lost its hierarchy in Europe: “I don’t know, everyone can have an opinion. Last year we did not win the Champions League, but we always aspire to it. I have no doubt that it is in my head and that of the players. It will be complicated and you have to fight a lot. We are going to fight to try ”.
Zidane’s future
The coach doesn’t think the position is being played
Zidane does not believe either that a defeat tomorrow will put him back in a delicate position, in which he was already but saved after winning at the Camp Nou: “I don’t think about that, but about the game. We are lucky to play a Champions League match tomorrow and the rest is inevitable. What we can do is prepare the game well ”.
Zidane assures that the demand in football has risen: “Football in general is more even, it is more difficult, more beautiful. There are no small teams, everyone can win everyone. That’s why every time we add we have to be happy. The other day was a final against Huesca. All the groups of champions, in general, are very good, very competitive. Ours, too ”.
The defense of Madrid
Varane believes that he and Ramos improve each other
Before Zidane came to the press room, Raphael Varane, who spoke about the couple he makes with Sergio Ramos in the back row: “As a defender I always feel more comfortable when the team defends more compactly. The last results in champions without Sergio the team has not been well. Sergio contributes a lot on a collective level, that character he has is very good for the team. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but without him we haven’t been doing well defensively. But it is everyone’s business. I make him better and he makes me better too. We all have to be together. We know the importance of Sergio, but we have to be everything ”.
Varane was also asked about his bad game at Etihad, in which he gave away the two goals to City that led to the elimination of Madrid in the last championship: “It’s the past, you have to learn from it and become stronger and better . You have to think about the positive. After the good things we did in the past, we can’t make a living from it, or from the bad stuff ”.
Lukaku’s absence
An old acquaintance for Varane
On the possible absence of Lukaku in tomorrow’s game against Inter, the French center-back commented that “I know him well. I played against him when he was at Manchester, also with the national team and when I was at Lens and he at Anderlecht. He is a very good player, but Inter have a very complete squad, a well-positioned, solid team that always creates danger at the top. He is a very good opponent ”.
Varane is aware of the importance that a new setback in the Champions League could have for Madrid, this time against the Italian team: “It is a slightly different situation from what we are used to, but we have to take this game as if it were elimination direct. We have a staff to face any challenge. And we like this. I see it as one more opportunity. We are looking forward to it ”.
