Zinedine Zidane was pleased after Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Liverpool and made no secret of his joy at Vinicius’s role in the merengue win with his two touchdowns.
“I’m happy because (Vinicius) had to score like Marco or Karim. He plays well, he helps the team and if he scores a goal, he gives him more energy,” said the French coach.
The game started with a monologue by the whites. First with a goal from Vinicius and then a goal from Asensio after a mistake by Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, for Real Madrid to go into half time with a clear advantage.
According to Zidane, the Varane coronavirus victim did not disrupt his original plan.
“We didn’t change anything, we just changed Eder Militao for Varane, (formation) 4-3-3. We didn’t change anything we’re preparing,” insisted Zidane.
The merengue coach also emphasized that his first reading of the game with the balls behind the “net” fans’ backs was correct.
“Their fullbacks are very attacking players and we have done well in that sense by taking advantage of the quality we have with Toni Kroos and Vini and their speed,” he explained in relation to his approach.
In the second half, Liverpool took a step forward, which ended with Mohamed Salah’s goal bringing them closer, but from then on the Madrid side returned to control the game to score the third, when Vinicius did not miss in the area after an assist from Luka Modric.
“In the second half they shot once and scored the goal. It’s complicated, but I don’t have to say anything, ”Zidane said of the England team’s response. “We went out under pressure, we arrived a little late, there is a rejection for them and that’s it. It’s things that come and can happen, but I’ll stick with my team, with what we’ve done ”.
Real Madrid will travel to Anfield next week to play the return game against Liverpool on Wednesday.