Zidane: “We deserved more”

Zinedine Zidane appeared before the media at the Etihad Stadium following the first leg of the Champions League semi-final: “I'm pleased with the game because it wasn't easy. We defended very well and in the second half we had more of the ball and chances to score. I'm a bit disappointed because we deserved more, but we were very good defensively. It was a hard-fought game”. “We could have scored, but getting a goal doesn't guarantee a place in the final. We're halfway through the tie. We've got the next game at home and we know what we're capable of doing at the Bernabéu. We'll have to work like we did today”. Second half “We played higher up, pressured more and above all, had more of the ball. If you've got it, it's difficult for your opponent to defend. We didn't get the goal and it's open going into the second leg. We'll try and play well like today, it's a Champions League semi-final, so it's not easy. I'm pleased with the result and the way everyone worked”.

I'M HAPPY WITH THE WAY EVERYONE WORKED BECAUSE IT WAS A DIFFICULT GAME.

"We're going to try to ensure that they're back for the return leg, but right now I can't say any more than that. We'll have to see how they progress each day. If they're on the pitch it's better for them to be 100% fit, but if they've got any sort of issue, we can't risk them. The players that did play did a good job, and that's important"."We're going to try to ensure that they're back for the return leg, but right now I can't say any more than that. We'll have to see how they progress each day. If they're on the pitch it's better for them to be 100% fit, but if they've got any sort of issue, we can't risk them. The players that did play did a good job, and that's important".

Ronaldo and Benzema
"I said that they were 100% fit, but that we'd have to see how they did in the last training session, Cristiano Ronaldo felt something and so he didn't play. The issue with Karim was a bit different, but it was gradually getting worse and we didn't want to risk him. They're two important players and we hope that they're back for the second leg. We'll take it day-by- day and look at it with the doctors".


Shackling Agüero 
"We performed well defensively and we didn't afford them any space. We were very compact and we've got when wanted to coming into the game".


Did Real Madrid play for a draw? 
"We always go out and try to win. In the first half we defended a bit too deep. We had the chances to have scored in the second half, but it wasn't meant to be. We've now got the return leg and we're halfway through".