Real Madrid great and Honorary President Paco Gento has stoked the fire ahead of this month’s Champions League final, saying his former club will have no issue beating Liverpool.
The Reds face their biggest match in over a decade on May 26, as Los Blancos stand between themselves and Number Six.
Zinedine Zidane’s side have become the powerhouse of the Champions League in recent times, and they are seeking a third successive crown in Kiev.
The bookies suggest it could easily go either way, but Gento, who is considered one of Madrid’s greatest players of all time, thinks otherwise.
When asked about how confident he was of his former club getting the job done, Gento flippantly replied: “That goes without saying, it will be a piece of cake.”
Gento, who along with fellow legendary attackers Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas won five European Cups in a row between 1956 and 1960, also spoke about his excitement ahead of the showcase event.
“Everyone gets excited by these kind of games.
“Everyone wants to be there to support the team and cheer them on to win another European Cup and continue this great run we’re in and which we have always enjoyed.
“Madrid cannot let this chance slip — finals are to be won, not played and Real Madrid know what is at stake.”
The 84-year-old’s comments are sure to rile some Liverpool supporters, but they should be taken with a pinch of salt.
There is an arrogance that exists at Real Madrid – perhaps merited, considering their rich history – but they will be worried about what the Reds can do to them at Kiev’s Olympic Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp‘s men have already scored 17 goals in six Champions League knockout games this season, and their vibrant attacking football can cause Madrid’s defence all sort of problems.
Klopp and his players should simply use the comments as further motivation to get the job done, as they search for a sixth European Cup title.
It evokes memories of Spanish publication Marca‘s famous “Esto es Anfield. Y que?”, headline back in 2009, which translated to ‘This is Anfield. So what?’.
Liverpool went on to thrash Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League last-16 second leg, in what was a humbling experience for the visitors.
Let’s hope Gento is similarly eating his words come the end of the month.
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