Zidane eyes Euro glory as Real sees off defiant Roma
Print Edition
REAL Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insisted he was happy as his side progressed into the Champions League quarterfinals despite being given a scare by AS Roma before sealing a 4-0 aggregate win.
Real booked its place in the last eight thanks to two goals in four second-half minutes from Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez to seal a 2-0 win on the night in Madrid.
But Roma was left to rue a host of clear-cut chances to get back into the tie as Mohamed Salah missed two one-on-ones with Keylor Navas, whilst Edin Dzeko also sliced wide a glorious chance early on.
“We tried to attack without thinking about the result in the first leg,” said Zidane, despite the fact his side held a 2-0 lead from the first meeting between the sides in Rome three weeks ago.
“We conceded chances that scared us a little, but when you cede space you assume risks.
“However, the most important thing for us was to use the ball in the best way possible.
“I am happy with the way we attacked and I think defensively we improved a lot in the second half.
“Now we have to think about our next league game and wait and see who we face next (in the Champions League).
“Everyone dreams of winning the Champions League and we are in the hunt.”
Gareth Bale made his first start in six weeks and shone early on as he was given a rare chance to play from the left with Ronaldo through the middle in the absence of the injured Karim Benzema.
However, Zidane refused to rule out switching the Welshman back to the right once Real’s favored front three are reunited. “I am happy with Gareth’s work in that position, but it can change because he is comfortable on the right, too,” added the Frenchman.
Elsewhere, having fired VfL Wolfsburg into the Champions League’s quarterfinals Andre Schuerrle wants to face ex-club Chelsea in the last eight, because he still has a soft spot for the Blues.
“It would be awesome to draw Chelsea. I still love the club,” said the Germany winger who played for the Blues from 2013 until January 2015.
With Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals for the first time in its history, Schuerrle now hopes Chelsea beats Paris St-Germain at Stamford Bridge, having lost the first leg 2-1 in the French capital.
Schuerrle’s 74th-minute strike sealed Wolfsburg’s 1-0 win over Gent on Tuesday as the German Cup holder marched on in Europe with a 4-2 aggregate victory in the last 16.
“It just shows that I’m back when you pop up with a goal in a game like that,” said Schuerrle, who has only cemented his place in the side last week.
After struggling to make an impact in his first year at Wolfsburg, Schuerrle has broken into the first team after moving in from the wing to partner Max Kruse up front.
He scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick in last week’s 4-0 drubbing of Hanover to silence criticism in the media after weeks of struggling for form.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
