Ramos hails team-maker Zidane

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos acknowledged the impact of coach Zinedine Zidane in turning the club’s season around.

Two years ago, they were just seconds away from becoming European champions for the very first time, and by beating their most bitter rivals too.

After seven successful spot-kicks in the shootout, Juanfran struck the post with Atletico’s fourth penalty and Ronaldo calmly converted to seal victory for Real.

Atletico struggled to break through Real’s defences in a rather tiresome first half, with 32-year-old striker Fernando Torres failing to complete a single pass.

After partying long into the night, Real Madrid have celebrated their historic Champions League win with an open-top bus parade through Madrid.

“As I said before, since Zizou (Zidane) arrived we experienced a big change”, he told fans.

“To be honest, I was confident I would score, I said to Zidane before the penalties, ‘put me the last one because I feel I’m going to score the winning goal, and this is what happened”, he said.

“We started very strongly and Atletico had no shots on goal throughout the first half, but then we exhausted and that hindered our work a lot”, he said.

“Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City can forget it, I’m retiring at Real Madrid”. It’s not easy at all.

“The season was a little unusual but when you have bad things you learn too, eventually you learn every day”, said the 24-year-old, in quotes published by Fox Sports.

“Real Madrid fought together and when we didn’t have the ball we gave everything as a shield in order to become champions”.

“So this Champions League is for them, the guys who support me all the time, my fans in Portugal and around the world”.

“We need to continue working. And I need to go home and think”, Simeone told the media after the final.

Barcelona, one of Real’s great rivals, also congratulated the team for its victory.