Real Madrid flew by Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16 with a 5-2 scoreline on aggregate. The squad has now advanced to the quarterfinals for the eighth straight year. Here’s a look at what the players had to say and their social media reaction.
Zinedine Zidane pulled off what was thought to be the unthinkable as his side cruised past PSG. After the second-leg in the Parc des Prince, the players answered questions from a variety of media outlets. Here’s what they had to say after the victory and the moments they shared via social media.
Real Madrid shared this video on their Official YouTube channel as they players congratulated one another on the win.
All quotes have been taken from the Offical Real Madrid page.
Sergio Ramos
Opening Statement
"“I’m happy and am satisfied with what was a great performance from us. This was a really good stage for us to once again make a statement in our favourite competition.” “We asserted ourselves by showing real character and once again enjoyed our football. This Madrid team has rediscovered the vibes that have brought us so much joy. It’s now a question of keeping it up, we’re happy to have progressed but haven’t done anything yet.”"
Preparation for the second-leg
“The way in which the coach approached the game was really good, we had prepared for the match and our high press did some damage as we regained possession in their half several times. They afforded us some space and we made the most of that and were rather fortunate in front of goal.”
The victory
“Never is it comfortable, even if it may look that way. The game was played a great tempo, it was a really physical battle and you can never rest on your laurels. We looked to continue causing them problems and the Verratti sending-off saw us increase our dominance of the play. You’ve got to look at what was a fine collective effort.”
“That’s what the coach is for and he’s the one who makes the decisions and knows who’s best suited to every situation. We have to adapt to that.”
Defense
“It’s nice to see the defensive work being singled out and it was important to transmit that balance and assurance today. I hope we can keep it up because that’s what this competition calls for, it’s the ideal route for us to follow.”
Marco Asensio
Overall Performance
"“I’m very pleased that we’re through to the quarter-finals. The coach asked me to do a job defensively and to play with freedom in attack. Everyone put in a great performance and I’m delighted with how things went.” “It’s a team game and we all won out there today. This is a special competition for us, we’re thrilled to be in the quarter-finals and now we’ll wait to find out who we’ll face.”"
Belief in Zidane
“The coach believes in all of us and he’s shown that today. He’s not bothered about names, we’re all a team and we win and lose together. We all have to pull in the same direction, that’s the basis of any successful team.”
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Casemiro
Team and individual performance
“There’s no question that tonight is a special one, on account of my goal and the performance we delivered. You’ve got to appreciate the work that we put in right from the first whistle, controlling the game and knowing just what we had to do out there. We’ve put in two top performances in this tie and the team has to be congratulated. We have to be pleased about getting through.”
“It was the perfect performance. I’m thrilled with my display, the goal asides, but it wouldn’t be fair if I was to talk only about my own performance. It’s no mean feat to win here and we’ve done just that. We always want to do our best and tonight we’ve shown that when we perform like that, we’re unbeatable. There are days when things don’t go your way and you can’t always win, but we’re a strong side, both at home and on the road.”
On Lucas, Asensio, and Ronaldo
“They’re all available. They’re key players within the squad and we’ve got to continue enjoying what they offer because they’re important for us. As for Cristiano, we’re talking about the best player in the world. I want to continue to enjoy seeing him score goals and put in the performances he does because he’s the best player in the world”.
Lucas Vazquez
All round formidable
"“The team was able to manage the game well, we dug in when we had to and that gave us a boost. Taking the lead really gave us a lift. The coach is doing a great job, we’re all really pleased with it because he gives everyone their chance. We’re all on it and raring to do our bit to help the team. We proved that we’re still the kings of Europe”. “The whole team put in a fantastic performance from beginning to end. We should be thrilled, the win is great for everyone. Our target was to qualify for the quarter-finals and the team deserved it. It’s a feeling of great satisfaction”."
La Liga and UCL
“We dropped points early on in LaLiga which affected us from a psychological perspective and had an impact on our form. The Champions League is a different tournament that sees you come out and compete once a fortnight. The team has a special connection with this competition, there are three rounds to go and we’re going to fight to be in the final. There’s a long way to go but we’ll take it one step at a time.”