■ Uefa Champions League final: Juventus v Real Madrid, Saturday June 3 at 10.45pm (UAE time)
Zinedine Zidane insists he will have no divided loyalties after leading Real Madrid to a second consecutive Uefa Champions League final where they will meet his old club Juventus on June 3.
Real withstood a first-half onslaught from local rivals Atletico Madrid to progress 4-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-1 in their semi-final, second leg on Wednesday.
Italian champions Juventus await, who Zidane left for a then-world record fee when he first joined Real as a player in 2001.
“For sure it is special because it was a very important club for me as a player. It is a club that also gave me everything,” said Zidane.
“Now, though, I am with Real Madrid, the club of my life and it will be a great final.”
Zidane admitted ahead of December’s last-16 draw that Juventus were the team he wanted to avoid due to his respect for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who eased past Monaco 4-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final.
“I can’t do anything about it now,” added Zidane. “They have got to the final and deserve to be there, as do we.”
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Read more
■ In pictures: Real Madrid move on to final with win
■ Champions League: Dani Alves inspires Juventus to victory over Monaco and into final
■ Primera Liga in focus: James Rodriguez a man in demand, except, it would seem, at Real Madrid
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Ultimately, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first leg hat-trick proved the difference as for the fourth straight season Real eliminated Atletico from the Champions League.
Atletico had threatened an incredible comeback, Saul Niguez’s powerful header and Antoine Griezmann’s penalty inside 16 minutes cutting Real’s aggregate lead to a solitary goal.
However, Isco’s away goal just before half-time settled Real’s nerves and left Atletico with too much to do to progress.
“We knew they would start very strongly,” said Ronaldo.
“They had the luck to score two goals but we know that if we scored that would kill them.
“They played well, but we have more experience.”
Real can now make history by becoming the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.
However, Zidane preferred to highlight the strength of his squad rather than his own role in a remarkably successful run since he took his first senior managerial job 17 months ago.
“I am delighted. I am the coach which means I am doing something right, but everyone in this squad is doing a phenomenal job.
“The squad should get the credit because it is they who are playing, running, fighting on the field.”
Real were without the injured Gareth Bale for both legs of the semi-final.
However, Zidane is hopeful the Welshman could be fit for a homecoming final in Cardiff.
“At the moment Gareth is recovering ... we have time before the final.
“I hope we will have him back before then, it is better that he plays a little bit.”
Despite the disappointment of bowing out to Real once more, Atletico boss Diego Simeone beamed with pride at his side’s performance.
“I am happy and proud that once again we have shown why we are competing at the top level just behind Real Madrid and Barcelona,” said the Argentine.
“When we said that we believed we could come back some thought it was just words.”
Atletico were inspired by a sensational atmosphere on their last ever Champions League game at the Vicente Calderon before moving to the new 67,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano next season.
“The atmosphere was one of those magical moments in the Calderon that will live in people’s memories forever.”
Atletico face another big summer as on top of moving stadium, they will have to resist huge offers for the likes of Griezmann and Simeone.
However, Simeone insists Atletico will have a bright future after leaving the Calderon.
“It is clear that we still need to keep growing.
“That final step is still a big one and we need to keep improving. If we can improve on this then the future is encouraging.”
* Agence France-Presse
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
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Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Profile box
Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India
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