Zidane: "Cristiano deserves more than 4 Ballon d'Or awards"
"To not have conceded a single shot on target during the whole game shows how just the team approached the match", the Madrid coach said. Russia vs Portugal
Serious attitude
Zinedine Zidane saluted his players for not taking their foot off the gas even when they were comfortably ahead in this afternoon's league meeting with Granada at the Bernabéu.
The game: “It's not easy to do that. We entered the game strongly and scored early on. It's always easier after that. We got a quick goal against a highly defensive side. What the players are doing isn't easy but we have to keep going. I'm very happy with how it turned out”.
Sturdy at the back
No shots on target conceded: “That shows how seriously the players took the game. It's always worse in the second half when you have scored three or four goals in the first half - you tend to relex, drop your guard - but we didn't. We respected our opponents. In the league it doesn't matter so much if you concede goals but it's important in Cup ties. Hopefully we can continue like this”.
Where is the ceiling for this Madrid? “I don't know. I'm not on my own in this - I have very good coaches by my side who are giving everything they have. We are a team. Now we have to continue along this path”.
Cristiano's four Ballon d'Ors: “He's won more than any of us. He's a great player. Maybe he deserves even more than four. When all of this is over, we'll realize that what he has done is amazing. I'm happy for him because he deserves it. The others who were there this afternoon only won one or two. It was a bit of a strange event, but it turned out ok”.
Great moment
The best moment so far: "Yes it is, because every time we win a game, the happiness increases. What matters is what the players do every day in training. Now we have four days to rest before the Copa return leg".
Winning run: "It's the result of a job well done. The players put in a trememdous effort in every game, they apply pressure, concentration...".