Zidane unhappy with Real Madrid’s performance despite 1-0 win over Atalanta


Zidane unhappy with Real Madrid’s performance despite 1-0 win over Atalanta
Ferland Mendy’s strike gave Real Madrid a crucial away goal against Atalanta

Real Madrid defeated Atalanta by a margin of 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions league.A Ferland Mendy goal in the dying minutes of the game gave Madrid a crucial lead in the two-legged tie.

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Atalanta put up a decent fight after going down to 10-men in the 18th minute. Atalanta midfielder, Remo Freuler was sent-off for a cynical challenge on Mendy just outside the penalty box.

Zidane got his tactics bang-on against Atalanta

Zidane started without a genuine striker and started Vinicius and Asensio as the attacking players with Isco playing a number 9 role. Despite getting the win and an away goal Zidane was not happy with his team’s overall performance in the match.

“It was difficult for us but in the end it’s a good result,” Zinedine Zidane said post-match in comments carried by Marca. “It’s an important result with an away goal, but we know there’s a return leg and we have to win. It wasn’t easy, even ten against eleven. We played against a very physically strong team who were defensively very good, so it’s a good result.”

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When asked to comment on the move which led to the goal, Zidane said it was a pre-planned training ground move.  Zidane said: “Yes, it was a pre-planned piece of play. But, the player who was supposed to shoot wasn’t Ferland! But well… he scored with his right foot. I think he actually sometimes manages to his it with more power with his right. He’s more accurate with his left, but maybe stronger with his right.”

Even though Zidane wasn’t pleased with his side’s performance all that matters in the end is that Real Madrid came out of Italy with a 1-0 lead despite having several key players out injured. The next leg will be played at the Alfredo De Stefano stadium in Madrid on 17th March.

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