Steve Nicol explains how Real Madrid were able to get a differentiating goal. (1:32) The biggest test of the team is the mentality of the manager. There is little doubt that the side is among the best in the league today, but they still need to win a trophy. As he surveyed the scene at the end of the game, he consoled each of his players in turn, beginning a healing process that has to turn this latest disappointment into fuel. - Marcotti: Madrid strengthen UCL legacy with win vs. Liverpool
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The parade back home may help. The club decided to have a celebration of their marathon campaign before knowing if they would be able to show off the two prizes that matter most. The FA Cup and Carabao Cup will be the only silverware that the squad will be able to win. For most teams in an ordinary season, that may be a satisfactory return, but for a long time this year, it was so close to immortality that the reflections will inevitably be a degree of disappointment.
They were beaten by a solitary unanswered goal as Real Madrid won the European Cup for the 14th time. It will be difficult to get these players to go again, especially with a short time between preseason and the start of the season.
A huge test of their character awaits as a result of the evolution in their resolve, as evidenced by the fact that he told supporters to book the hotel in Istanbul for next year's final. It would be even bigger if Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah had a bad outcome from their contract talks.
He said on Saturday night that they would go again. We will celebrate tomorrow. After a night of sleep and maybe another speech from me, the boys will realize how special it was.
It's hard to find much room for improvement in a team that played the maximum number of games possible in a season and fell short by the narrowest of margins. Thiago was pulled from the starting lineup and then restored to it in the 36 minute delay caused by the crowd issues outside the stadium, but he was not the same player as they were.
The quality of that trio is the same as it was in the 2016 final. Modric had seven passes, while Kroos had six. Vinicius Junio's fearsome pace and Karim Benzema's relentless movement helped Madrid transition from defense to offense.
The England manager may have smiled when Trent Alexander-Arnold lost Vinicius Junior for the goal. Vinicius tapped in after Alexander-Arnold napping at the back post when the cross was driven.
This type of lapse in defensive concentration has made England's coach hesitant in picking the right-back for the tournament. Alexander-Arnold's quality is unarguable and there is a strong case his attacking prowess far outweighs any defensive concerns, but it is an area he could work on. Time is very much on his side as he is the youngest player ever to start three finals.
For a team that scored 94 goals in 38 games in the premier league and has a devastating array of attacking talent, the fact that they failed to score in any of the cup finals is brutal. 330 minutes, 61 shots, 17 on target and an xG of 5.7 is what it is. It's difficult to put this at the feet of any one player because of the amount of prolificness of the team. Records began in 2003 and Real needed Thibaut Courtois to make nine saves in the final.
At least two of them were jaw-dropping, once from Mane in the first half with help from his right-hand post and another eight minutes from time preventing Salah from equalising with a stunning reflex stop. The criticisms should not linger. The margins could not have been better.
They have proven themselves to be worthy of consideration among the modern-day greats. They have to do it all over again to get the silverware.
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