Mueez Ajao
– Mauricio Pochettino admits he will be backing Real Madrid in the Champions League final, despite the LaLiga Santander champions beating his Paris-Saint Germain side.
– Real Madrid staged a stunning comeback to beat PSG in the last 16, before beating Chelsea and Manchester City to reach Saturday night’s final against Liverpool.
– “It is clear that my heart is much whiter than red,” said Pochettino. “My soft spot for Madrid comes from 1994, when I arrived in Barcelona. I was lucky that my coach was Jose Antonio Camacho, who transmitted that love for Real Madrid to me.
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– “I have never been able, as a player and coach, to be at Madrid, but my emotional preference is clear.”
– On paper, Real Madrid are the underdogs against Liverpool but the 13-time Champions League winners have had an extraordinary run to the final and can never be ruled out.
– Pochettino isn’t sure who will win, but is weary of the threat Los Blancos pose.
– “I don’t know if Madrid are the favourites,” continued Pochettino. “The trajectory of Madrid, which has lost four matches between the groups and the qualifiers has been much more demanding than Liverpool.
– “That may indicate that Madrid is the favourite but Liverpool are a great team, with a manager I appreciate very much, with great players who have reached finals and won them.
– “We will see, but Madrid is the one who have the most titles, who have reached more finals. That plus of history and energy makes them always dangerous.”
