As Juventus star Dani Alves prepares to renew rivalries with Real Madrid once again, he stoked the fires by reminding the public of the controversial manner in which they won the 1998 final.
That was the last time the sides met in the Champions League, with Los Blancos coming out on top thanks to a lone Predrag Mijatovic goal.
However, Alves has done his homework and claimed that the winning goal shouldn’t have counted as he discussed the 2017 edition in Cardiff.
“[Real Madrid] are not everyone’s favourites; It is not an Alves vs Madrid match, it is a Juventus vs Madrid match,” he told the assembled media. “There is some resentment from playing against them because, with an offside goal, Madrid won [in 1998].”
The Brazilian is one of the most decorated players in footballing history and has a chance to add to his haul during Saturday’s clash.
However, he insisted that his past experience of such important games doesn’t mean he has to shoulder any extra responsibility against Los Blancos.
“I am no more important than anyone else, it is a moment to live and make your own history,” said the former Barcelona defender.
“You have to try and write new pages all the time. Life brought me to this team to try and relive a dream. We’re here to try and share this dream with my teammates
“I don’t think I am one to be giving advice, and even less so to people at Juventus, who have won lots of important trophies. I am an eternal apprentice, I aim to learn from all of them. I think that is our strength.
“You have to do something new every day, I can’t be thinking about becoming the only player with three trebles if we win. Our dream is bigger than that.
“I’m not a person who lives thinking about that. If my environment is fine, then I am fine. My concern is to live up to my teammates. These games are not played, you come and win the cup then take it home.”
Kicking off at 20:45 CET from the National Stadium of Wales, Alves is out to stop Real being the first modern era side to successfully defend the trophy.
