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Real Madrid lacked creativity in a bad Champions League game in Atalanta, but Zinedine Zidane was pleased with the way he stood his ground.
Zinedine Zidane accepted that the injured Real Madrid did not do justice to the 10-man Atalanta, but was content to leave with a 1-0 lead in the Champions League.
Madrid achieves little advantage in Atalanta
Atalanta midfielder Remo Freuler was expelled for professional foul on Ferland Mendy Just 17 minutes from the first leg of the round of 16 at Gewiss Stadium on Wednesday.
Lackluster Madrid dominated possession but had just three shots on goal in a monotonous encounter until Mendy scored his first European goal to win it four minutes from time.
A depleted Los Blancos side, that have people like Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard on a long list of absent, he was lacking in ideas and looked ready to shoot blank before Mendy’s sweetly scored late goal.
Zidane knows that Madrid’s fifth consecutive victory was not pleasant, but he was relieved to take the lead in the second leg at home on March 16.
The Madrid coach said: “We didn’t play a great game tonight, but I think the most important thing is the result.”
“In the end, scoring is the important thing for us. We still have to play the second leg, but it’s a good result.”
The former French midfielder added: “We played against a very strong team physically. Defensively they were good and it is a good result.
“There are many casualties, but we continue with what we are doing well. The players who are here are committed. “
Zidane praised Isco, who only made his fifth season start, and first in the Champions League, in a more advanced role with Benzema still out of the game.
“It has been a long time since he played so many minutes and he has done very well in a position that is not his,” Zidane said.
“He has played a great game, we know what he can give us and he has done very well. When he plays he gives everything on the field. It’s a win and he’s done a great job for over an hour.“
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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