Atmosphere of the Bernabéu: “I’m surprised that the match was elevated to the category of legend. I had no doubt that Madrid was going to go through.”
Debacle PSG: “It’s more of an exhibition team than a competition team. Someone doesn’t tell Al Khelaifi the truth, they sign a lot of strikers but the team collapsed in defence. Until the 60th minute there was tension but if you give Madrid a thread of life, this It destroys you. The tie had 30 minutes for Madrid and the rest for PSG. Except for Mbappé, the rest would not play for Real Madrid”.
Until minute 60…: “The game was dead. But if Donnarumma does not commit negligence. It is a game of this level, what benefit do you do haggling. Madrid have two central defenders like Alaba and Militao. PSG, when they had to hold on with their defensive part, was a scandal. You’re not going to ask him to defend Messi or Neymar.”
Spirit of comeback: “There was a lot of talk about a comeback, but the comeback was a manifest inferiority in the first leg, although it wasn’t that much because it was 1-0 in the 90th minute, but the game with 0-1 was clearly that Madrid was going to turn it around. Madrid on a bad day he has seven chances. He’s a great competitor: I had no doubt that they were going to go through. People get carried away thinking that PSG is the rival to beat. Real Madrid never arrive as favourites”.
Benzema: “He is showing that he was capable of doing what Cristiano did and also being an assistant. He has incorporated things: he is capable of playing outside the area, now he is more accurate and fundamental, because when he is touched, or he is not, Madrid suffers a lot “.
Modric: “He’s a differential player. When Madrid signed him I didn’t think he was going to give that performance. He has given his game leadership and passion…”
Mbappe: “If you play for Real Madrid you probably don’t want to leave. And if you don’t play, you want to try it. And you’re just as rich with 100 million as with 50. In the end there are many players, like Zidane who until he arrived at Madrid hadn’t won nothing at club level. Messi was much better at Barcelona than at PSG. The best in the world? If he had money, maybe he wouldn’t just go for Mbappé or De Bruyne… Put all the money in it basket. Mbappé is a great player, he has incredible conditions. It fills my eye”.
“I don’t like that Ramos ends his career in a team that isn’t Madrid. It’s sacrilege”
Go to Cibeles: “There are so many games that in the end many of them want to turn them into something else to make them special. For me, taking away the double value of away goals I think is a mistake, before the qualifiers were much more aggressive. The key to playoffs is the goal away from home”.
Neymar: “He is 30 years old, and with all due respect, I don’t know which team has improved Neymar. Barça was very good, the Brazilian national team, PSG… I insist, he left a club like Barça and nothing happens. It is taken for granted in the end that when Haaland comes to Spain, to whatever team, he has to be champion of everything.”
Sergio Ramos: “I remember that I said that the two parties were condemned to understand each other, but Sergio Ramos could not leave Madrid. What happens to him is to leave Madrid, because when you are in Madrid you are much more protected. I do not like that a legend of the Madrid ends his career in a team that is not Madrid. It is a sacrilege on both sides.”
Haaland: “They don’t all fit anymore. Haaland’s money would look for defenses. What are you doing with Haaland, Mbappé, Benzema, Vinicius, Rodrygo… If I were Guardiola I would take a medium club and see what I am capable of doing, let’s see if without Pasta… Guardiola’s Barça was at a level that Bayern and City did not reach. What he does well is sign players he needs”
“Mbappé is a great player and fills my eyes”
Ancelotti: “He has a very good part as a coach: a lot of experience. All his teams always obey the same thing. Little interventionist but he always hits the players who have to play. I had Luis Molowny… I wasn’t surprised that they called up Luis Molowny again. Ancelotti. There weren’t many solutions and he is a specialist for these situations.”
Barcelona: “The most unexpected signing, Mateo Alemany. Incredible jewelry. Xavi will be a wonderful coach, it has been very good for Barça and for Barça it has been very good for him”.
Hazard and Bale: “The last time I saw Bale play was in the Super Cup and he did very well. So as a former footballer nothing. Hazard, the money seems excessive to me. I would not put Hazard in the top-5, nor when he was in the Chelsea. If you give me a choice between Bale and Hazard… Bale has been very important in the Champions League. With Bale I don’t know what happens, he also sometimes disappears. Hazard’s situation is more complicated. With Dembélé there was also a runrún in Barcelona and now he is a player who contributes”.
The template with the most future?: “The squad that I like the most is Atlético’s, just like Sevilla’s, but a starting eleven is better for Madrid or Barça. The season is not over for Atlético, I think the Champions League tie is going to happen” .
“Benzema has shown that he is capable of doing what Cristiano did and being an assistant”
Getafe: “I am waiting for a resolution, I am trying to reach an agreement. There is a difference in criteria. The negotiations we have had have not reached an agreement, I have a good relationship with Ángel Torres but I am not to blame for what we signed.”
Paris, a good place to train: “An electric bench. They give you eight footballers to play permanently and you are not going to train.”