Zinedine Zidane spoke to the press at Real Madrid City as part of the Open Media Day. The Whites coach spoke about the Champions League final against Liverpool: “I don't know how much our rivals want this, but what i can assure you of is the desire that this club has, it never goes away. No one can say we don't have that same hunger. We're Real Madrid and that is what we're about. We always strive for more and we will give it our all”.



"We are ready for the game. How can anyone think we have less hunger than our rivals? That is not true. They are going to throw everything at us and we know that. They had a great season and things can get tricky at any time. There are no surprises and both teams know each other really well."



Liverpool

"they are a good team, they made it to the final and they deserve to be here just like us. We must prepare for the game, look at our opponent’s flaws and try to hurt them. It is one match and we are both playing away from home. We are ready and experience will not give us any edge at all. It's a football match and we have to show that we want to win it."



"It's a final. We both want to win the trophy. Winning last year is irrelevant and so is the fact they have not reached the final for 11 years. We want to see a great football match and we are going to give it everything."



The hard road to the final

“It is always like that. It is brilliant just to get to the final itself because it is never easy. Winning two Champions League finals was spectacular, we had to suffer. In the knockout stages, you have to play against the best in Europe and that has a certain important value, especially if you cast your memory back over the tough season we have had”.



“We are in the final and we have four days to prepare for it. The hardest part is getting into the final. It has been complicated this year and winning away from home never means the tie is dead. This time will fight to the death”.



The dressing room

“I spent 17 or 18 years as a player, worked with many coaches and some gifted players with the ego to match. I know very well how players think and that is important for a coach, but that's not the only thing. That will not win you games, you need grit and a philosophy. Tactically I'm not the best coach, the press say it themselves, but I have the drive and passion and that means a lot. It was much easier for me as a player. You all know what I do well and badly. I am so passionate about football."



"Every now and then things give me a headache but that is the life of a coach. The people on the bench are also very important. The players that do not start cannot think they will not feature at all because from the bench my players can make a real difference and be the game changer. I want everyone switched on. That's why I am not saying now who plays because that can damage a footballer."



Praise for Cristiano Ronaldo

“A player can go through some hard times, but when he does not score he does not get wound up. He knows that the next game he could maybe score two or three goals. That is what happened this year. That's what makes him the best. There are players that do not thrive under pressure but some do thrive. He is one of those that does. The more you criticise him, the more you should beware. I am a quiet person and in the end, it is better to have Cristiano Ronaldo by your side because he shows year in year out that he is top dog. He will be vital, because he is the best there is”.