Real Madrid former manager Zinedine Zidane has rubbished claims that he changed his system of play in the final of the Champions league against Liverpool to frustrate their star player Mohamed Salah.
The LaLiga giants ran out 3-1 winners in a game which saw the Reds’ star player forced off with a shoulder injury in the first-half after a clash with Sergio Ramos.
The aftermath of the game has led to suggestions Real made a special effort to alter their usual game plan in order to stifle Liverpool’s attack.
However, Zidane rubbished these ideas, saying that his former side always played the same way, regardless of their opponents.
In an interview for the UEFA 2017/18 Champions League technical report, Zidane said: “I always remained faithful to the footballing philosophy that I had conveyed to my players, regardless of who our opponents were.
“Our game was always the same, regardless of who we were facing.
“However, we told players about the individual characteristics of opposing players, so that they were aware of specific things that those players did.
“I didn’t want to do too much of that, as I wanted my players to focus primarily on our own game.
“Liverpool are a counterattacking team that do a lot of pressing and are very quick to get the ball up to their three forwards when they win possession.
“They’re also a team that never give up.”
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