Zidane: "Simeone's got it all; I've still got a lot to learn"
"They say Atlético defend well, but they are a very complete side. They also know how to play football and give you problems".
Zinedine Zidane answered questions about Saturday's Champions League final this morning as part of Real Madrid's Open Media Day.
Would it be a fiasco not to win the final?: “No, it would only be a fiasco if we don't give everything we've got. After that, like in any final, the important thing is make sure you prepare well although anything can happen in a final. We've been preparing well and that's all we can do at this moment. We'll se what happens on Saturday”.
Madrid's possession precentages could be a fctor in your favour? “I don't think having possession is enough. There are other factors. In a game like this, a lot of things will happen. It'll be difficult for us because we are playing against a side which doesn't just defend very well. People point out Atlético's defensive qualities, that they're a side who are difficult to score against, but they are in afct a very complete team. They also know how to play quality football, they gave give you a lot of problems”.
Do you feel under extra pressure at Real Madrid? “There are five or six people who are constantly under pressure. The job remains exactly the same. Pressure is part of the job and I enjoy what I do. I also experienced pressure when I was a player. Maybe there's a little more for coaches, but I don't mind, I like it”.
Simeone: “He's douing a great job. He's one of a group of the world's great coaches. He's a man who has a deep understanding of fooball and his team. He knows what he has to do to get his team to the final. I'm not the only one who thinks that. What he's done is there for everyone to see. As a player he had a lot of character and he's the same now he's a coach. Simeone's got everything you need to bne a coach - above all because he knows his players inside out”.
Your managerial career so far: "I've still got a lot to learn, but my eagerness to learn couldn't be higher. I'm convinced that willingness will make me a better coach. But I have a long way to go before I can be called an important coach".
Would you forfeit any of your previous successes to win the 11th European cup? “No, I wouldn't change anything. I'm not going to change. I've got what I've got, whatever comes next; we've going to give our all and try to win. Nobody can take away what I have got”.
