….Ancelotti: Real Madrid Could Have Killed Off The Tie, We Were Lucky
If Real Madrid fans assumed that Zinedine Zidane would be satisfied with his team’s 2-1 victory in Munich, they would be mistaken, with the Frenchman suggesting that his charges could’ve better exploited their man advantage in the second half.
A fierce Arturo Vidal header put Bayern Munich ahead in the 25th minute as the Germans imposed their game on Real in the first half, but the Chilean then blazed an incorrectly awarded penalty kick over the bar just before the halftime whistle.
Cristiano Ronaldo then scored two second-half goals either side of Javi Martinez’s sending-off, but Real were unable to score a third due in big part to Manuel Neuer’s shot-stopping exploits.
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“We are disappointed because we had many chances in the second half playing against ten men, and another goal would’ve been better, but we hit a goalkeeping wall,” Zidane said in his post-match press conference.
However, the French boss pointed out that no scoreline could’ve been enough to help the capital club feel secure going into the second leg.
“We could’ve scored another goal and that still wouldn’t have settled the tie,” he said.
The 44-year-old acknowledged that his team were put under the cosh in the first half, echoing captain Sergio Ramos’ comments.
“We suffered in the first half, and I was happy go into halftime only 0-1 down,” he admitted.
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“There shouldn’t have been a penalty awarded but these things happen. 2-0 would’ve made things very complicated.
“But we were patient and improved in the second half, and playing against ten men was easier,” Zidane observed.
“In the second half, we managed to keep the ball away from Bayern and they don’t like playing without it,” he added.
The French boss also took time to praise star man Ronaldo’s hunger to score a third goal.
“Cristiano was unhappy because he couldn’t score a third, that’s how ambitious he is,” he pointed out.
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Finally, Zidane shared his thoughts on what he believes will be a hugely challenging return leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
“These are the knock-out rounds, and it’s not over till it’s over,” he warned.
“We are prepared to suffer at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.”
