[CL] Real Madrid - Juventus (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter ZhiXin
- Start date
And this will make u all more nervous, the interview of Zidane
Zidane not rocking the boat
Tuesday, 22 February 2005
By Adrian Clarke
Real Madrid CF's UEFA Champions League tie with Italian giants Juventus would have been the perfect final according to Zinedine Zidane, who is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to beat his former club at the Santiago Bernabéu tonight.
Early date
The Madrid star admits he was slightly disappointed to be paired with Juventus at such an early stage of this year's competition. "I'd have preferred to play against them in the final," Zidane told uefa.com. "It could have been 'the game' but it has to take place in the last 16 now instead.
Better chances
"It should still be great, though. And it could turn out to be a good thing too, because if we knock Juve out we'll have a better chance of winning the competition. This tie may be the most difficult obstacle we have to overcome if we want to reach the final of the Champions League this year but we can do it."
Italian success
Zidane, 32, joined Juventus from French side FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 1996, and quickly established himself as one of Europe's best players during a highly successful five-year spell in Turin, which included two Italian titles and two Champions League runners-up medals.
Fabulous spell
He said: "I had some great years playing for Juventus and they will always be a club close to my heart, even though I am very, very happy at Madrid. It was a phase in my life where I grew up so much as a person and as a player. I met some great people in Turin and still have many friends from my time there.
'Complete form'
"It's hard to compare my life in Italy to the one I now have in Spain. They are totally different times. In Italy I was improving as a player and enjoyed some great times, but here in Madrid I have found the best and most complete form of my entire career."
Defensive frailties
Both sides approach the first leg in indifferent form. Juventus have seen a seven-point lead over rivals AC Milan wiped out in the past few weeks, while Madrid are still reeling from a shock 2-0 defeat by Athletic Club Bilbao last weekend. And Zidane admitted Madrid's defensive frailty is a concern.
Heroic performance
"Being at home we must attack hard, but it would be dangerous to forget defending, especially with players like [Alessandro] Del Piero, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovich and [Pavel] Nedved around," he said. "Our defence must play a very strong two games if we are to go through. In fact they will have to perform like [Fernando] Hierro and [Manuel] Sanchís did against the Juventus team I played in, when Madrid won the Champions League final in 1998. That was a great defensive display and we might need the same again."
Confident Frenchman
On paper the tie promises to be a classic and whoever progresses to the quarter-finals will undoubtedly be among the leading contenders to lift the European Champion Clubs' Cup in Istanbul this May. And despite believing that Juve pose a major threat to their chances, Zidane remains confident that Madrid will regain their crown this year.
Good chance
He concluded: "I am sure that Madrid are good enough to win the Champions League this season. We have a great deal of quality and when you look at the players we have, you have to say that we are a very strong team. If we concentrate well in all of our games, we have a very good chance of winning the title."
"I am sure that Madrid are good enough to win the Champions League this season" --------- Zinedine Zidane
source: uefa.com
Man, this will keep u guys excited
Zidane not rocking the boat
Tuesday, 22 February 2005
By Adrian Clarke
Real Madrid CF's UEFA Champions League tie with Italian giants Juventus would have been the perfect final according to Zinedine Zidane, who is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to beat his former club at the Santiago Bernabéu tonight.
Early date
The Madrid star admits he was slightly disappointed to be paired with Juventus at such an early stage of this year's competition. "I'd have preferred to play against them in the final," Zidane told uefa.com. "It could have been 'the game' but it has to take place in the last 16 now instead.
Better chances
"It should still be great, though. And it could turn out to be a good thing too, because if we knock Juve out we'll have a better chance of winning the competition. This tie may be the most difficult obstacle we have to overcome if we want to reach the final of the Champions League this year but we can do it."
Italian success
Zidane, 32, joined Juventus from French side FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 1996, and quickly established himself as one of Europe's best players during a highly successful five-year spell in Turin, which included two Italian titles and two Champions League runners-up medals.
Fabulous spell
He said: "I had some great years playing for Juventus and they will always be a club close to my heart, even though I am very, very happy at Madrid. It was a phase in my life where I grew up so much as a person and as a player. I met some great people in Turin and still have many friends from my time there.
'Complete form'
"It's hard to compare my life in Italy to the one I now have in Spain. They are totally different times. In Italy I was improving as a player and enjoyed some great times, but here in Madrid I have found the best and most complete form of my entire career."
Defensive frailties
Both sides approach the first leg in indifferent form. Juventus have seen a seven-point lead over rivals AC Milan wiped out in the past few weeks, while Madrid are still reeling from a shock 2-0 defeat by Athletic Club Bilbao last weekend. And Zidane admitted Madrid's defensive frailty is a concern.
Heroic performance
"Being at home we must attack hard, but it would be dangerous to forget defending, especially with players like [Alessandro] Del Piero, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovich and [Pavel] Nedved around," he said. "Our defence must play a very strong two games if we are to go through. In fact they will have to perform like [Fernando] Hierro and [Manuel] Sanchís did against the Juventus team I played in, when Madrid won the Champions League final in 1998. That was a great defensive display and we might need the same again."
Confident Frenchman
On paper the tie promises to be a classic and whoever progresses to the quarter-finals will undoubtedly be among the leading contenders to lift the European Champion Clubs' Cup in Istanbul this May. And despite believing that Juve pose a major threat to their chances, Zidane remains confident that Madrid will regain their crown this year.
Good chance
He concluded: "I am sure that Madrid are good enough to win the Champions League this season. We have a great deal of quality and when you look at the players we have, you have to say that we are a very strong team. If we concentrate well in all of our games, we have a very good chance of winning the title."
"I am sure that Madrid are good enough to win the Champions League this season" --------- Zinedine Zidane
source: uefa.com
Man, this will keep u guys excited
++ [ originally posted by djleli ] ++
Okey here is the official team lin up:
Juventus:
------------------BUffon----------------------
Zebina - Thuram - Cannavaro- Zambrotta
Camoranesi - Emerson - Tacchinardi - Nedved
----Del Piero --------- Ibrahimovic
Blasi will no start. but nedved will.
This is the best we get.
Okey here is the official team lin up:
Juventus:
------------------BUffon----------------------
Zebina - Thuram - Cannavaro- Zambrotta
Camoranesi - Emerson - Tacchinardi - Nedved
----Del Piero --------- Ibrahimovic
Blasi will no start. but nedved will.
This is the best we get.
Are we planning to throw this game away!
++ [ originally posted by djleli ] ++
Okey here is the official team lin up:
Juventus:
------------------BUffon----------------------
Zebina - Thuram - Cannavaro- Zambrotta
Camoranesi - Emerson - Tacchinardi - Nedved
----Del Piero --------- Ibrahimovic
Blasi will no start. but nedved will.
This is the best we get.
Okey here is the official team lin up:
Juventus:
------------------BUffon----------------------
Zebina - Thuram - Cannavaro- Zambrotta
Camoranesi - Emerson - Tacchinardi - Nedved
----Del Piero --------- Ibrahimovic
Blasi will no start. but nedved will.
This is the best we get.
I feel that Capello will wait too long at he will get a red card. I wish we had this startingeleven available:
Buffon
Zebina-Thuram-Canna-Rambo
Camo-Emerson-Blasi-Nedved
Trezeguet-Del Piero
And use Ibrahimovic in the 2nd half as a sub.
btw, y'all be sure to watch how Zlatan will not get fauls against him when he's a little tough. In Serie A, his enemy is the referee's he cant even touch defenders without being whistled...
I hate Italian Referees.
I wish we had this startingeleven available:Buffon
Zebina-Thuram-Canna-Rambo
Camo-Emerson-Blasi-Nedved
Trezeguet-Del Piero
And use Ibrahimovic in the 2nd half as a sub.
btw, y'all be sure to watch how Zlatan will not get fauls against him when he's a little tough. In Serie A, his enemy is the referee's he cant even touch defenders without being whistled...
I hate Italian Referees.
++ [ originally posted by David Del Piero ] ++
I feel that Capello will wait too long at he will get a red card. I wish we had this startingeleven available:
Buffon
Zebina-Thuram-Canna-Rambo
Camo-Emerson-Blasi-Nedved
Trezeguet-Del Piero
And use Ibrahimovic in the 2nd half as a sub.
btw, y'all be sure to watch how Zlatan will not get fauls against him when he's a little tough. In Serie A, his enemy is the referee's he cant even touch defenders without being whistled...
I hate Italian Referees.
I feel that Capello will wait too long at he will get a red card.
I wish we had this startingeleven available:Buffon
Zebina-Thuram-Canna-Rambo
Camo-Emerson-Blasi-Nedved
Trezeguet-Del Piero
And use Ibrahimovic in the 2nd half as a sub.
btw, y'all be sure to watch how Zlatan will not get fauls against him when he's a little tough. In Serie A, his enemy is the referee's he cant even touch defenders without being whistled...
I hate Italian Referees.
