Zinedine Zidane hailed Real Madrid for a “brilliant” win against Atletico but warned “we need a perfect” second leg to reach the Champions League final.
Madrid took a commanding 3-0 lead in their semi-final tie with Atleti, courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s second hat-trick of the season against Los Colchoneros on Tuesday, but UEFA.com cited mixed emotions from Zidane after the game.
“We played a great game. It’s not easy to score three. We took the lead and had more chances in the first half,” stated the Coach.
“We’re happy with the game, to have scored three and above all not have conceded at home, because we know how important away goals are.
“When you look at the game and the scoreline it means we did a great game. We still have the second leg.
“We will have to work hard and fight for it. We will suffer at their place for sure.
“We’re content, very happy and we can enjoy it but we still have a long way to go in the Champions League and the Liga.
“I don’t think that we’re euphoric and imagining ourselves in the final.
“Cristiano is a goalscorer. He’s unique. All the players were brilliant. One lad comes off and another one comes on and plays great game.
“We knew what we had to do from the off and we played the game we wanted to. Today Isco played as a No 10 and was fantastic.
“We then had width with Vazquez and Asensio. In a defensive sense we were brilliant too. I’m very happy with everyone’s work.
“I’m happy with what I’m doing here and with the players. We’ve won nothing yet and need to continue in the way we’re going.
“We played a great game. It’s not easy to score three times against such a difficult side and keep a clean sheet. We need to carry on in that vein.
“We can hurt any side with our weapons. We started well, the first half-hour was fantastic.
“We were brilliant. We were clinical with our chances. We interpreted the game very well.
There’s no such thing as an easy game and we need to play a perfect game at their place in order to go through.
“I’m lucky to have these players. We try to play our football and enjoy ourselves. It works because we have great players with great attitudes.”
