Real Madrid’s manager expects a clash of styles in the Champions League final and is fully aware of his opponents’ front three

Zinedine Zidane has praised his “formidable” opposite number Jürgen Klopp before Real Madrid take on Liverpool in Saturday’s Champions League final.

The Frenchman was full of praise for the German manager, who has led Liverpool to two European finals since he took over towards the end of 2015.

“I don’t know him personally, I’ve never spoken with him but I’ve seen his work and it’s formidable,” Zidane said. “He has shown it over the years, not only at Dortmund but also now with Liverpool. I respect him a lot for what he’s doing in the Champions League and Premier League.”

Desire can deliver Champions League dream for Liverpool, says Jürgen Klopp Read more

Zidane said he expected a clash of styles in Kiev on Saturday evening. “I don’t think we play the same kind of football as a team,” he said, adding that Real would be fully prepared and did not expect any surprises.

“Everyone speaks about the three up front [Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané] and says they’re less at the back, but they’re a team unit. They’ve got to the final and deserve to be there, just like us.”

Inevitably talk turned to Cristiano Ronaldo and Salah but Zidane was unequivocal when asked whether he would swap the Portuguese for Liverpool’s Egyptian forward.

“Cristiano is the best; he shows it every year,” he said. “Sometimes pressure gets to players and it spurs others on. He is certainly the latter. He’s of maximum importance to us.”

Zidane warned Liverpool that Real are as hungry as ever to win the Champions League, rejecting claims that they might have lost their edge, having won the past two finals and three of the last four.

“We always have the same desire and nobody can say we don’t,” he said. “We’re in a third final [in a row] and we have the chance to do something historic and win it three times in a row. You can’t say Liverpool have more hunger than us; it simply isn’t true. Nobody can take our hunger away from us. We’re Real Madrid ... We always want more and will always give our all to get more.”