zidane gave his thoughts on the decisive match the day before the Manchester City game (8:45pm CEST). The coach spoke about what will be the key to the game: “A semi-final is very difficult. We can't think that because we are at home, with our fans, that it will be easy. We will work hard from the first to the 90th minute to make it to the final. As long as we're calm and patient we can get something tomorrow”.
“It is going to be a difficult game, more so than the first leg. Everything will be decided tomorrow. We are aware of that and we will prepare for the game as we always do, showing respect to the opponent, they've got very good players, especially in attack. We are going to concentrate on our game. It's not going to be the same as the second-leg against Wolfsburg. We can't think that we are going to score 2 or 3 goals in 15 minutes. We know that it will be difficult and the important thing is to prepare and play a well worked game”.
Approach
“I'm not going to change tomorrow. The idea is always the same and more so playing at home. Hopefully we can play 90 minutes like the second half in England. We have to score a goal, which is the most important thing in football. We're going to go out to play football, pressing high up with a high intensity and the concentration that is needed in a Champions League semi-final. They are also playing for a place in the final and they will make it difficult”.
Cristiano, Benzema and Casemiro
“Cristiano is in good shape, he is at 100%, he has trained and he is going to play. Casemiro and Karim Benzema are different cases, we don't want to risk Benzema at the moment and Casemiro has a slight problem also, but we have a big squad that can help us cover all options.
Cristiano risk
“Cristiano is not a risk, he is well, he is training and he is 100%. We'll see in the game tomorrow but today he is 100%. His recovery isn't a question of two days, it's been a week. He's recovered bit by bit. He is a player who is like that, he recovers quickly and he looks after himself a lot. We need Cristiano at 100% and the good thing is that he is always on the field. He's a different player and his statistic show that. I would have like to have also had Casemiro and Karim, but others will play and we will do well”.
“We have got a good relationship with the players. It's important for me that a player says the same about his coach. I like it when my message is taken on by the players. If this relationship stays like this, I'll be happy”.
Chances of getting to Milan
“We've not won anything yet. We're in good form and our plan if to do as much as possible tomorrow: play the game we need to play to make it to the final. If we don't go through it will have been a failure, obviously, because we want to go through”.
