Marco Materazzi is cheering on Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid in the Champions League Final, as Rafa Benitez and Diego Simeone hold “bad memories.”
The former defender was famously head-butted in the chest by Zizou in the 2006 World Cup Final and the pair have traded insults via the media ever since.
Tomorrow evening Zidane’s Real Madrid take on Simeone’s Atletico Madrid at San Siro, Materazzi’s old hunting ground.
“I said in December t
Marco Materazzi is cheering on Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid in the Champions League Final, as Rafa Benitez and Diego Simeone hold “bad memories.”
The former defender was famously head-butted in the chest by Zizou in the 2006 World Cup Final and the pair have traded insults via the media ever since.
Tomorrow evening Zidane’s Real Madrid take on Simeone’s Atletico Madrid at San Siro, Materazzi’s old hunting ground.
“I said in December that if Real fired Benitez, they’d reach the Champions League Final,” grinned Matrix on Mediaset Premium.
“I thought Madrid needed a real Coach, or at least someone who wouldn’t do further damage. Zidane is a fine Coach and isn’t doing damage, so naturally now Real are up there.
“It is the right place for a club that always aims to win.”
It turns out Materazzi’s dislike of Zidane is thoroughly outshone by his hatred of ex-Inter boss Benitez, but there’s another reason too.
“I back those who gave me great memories, not bad ones, so I stand by Zidane because Cholo took away my Scudetto on May 5.”
That’s because Simeone was playing for Lazio when they beat Inter 4-2 in May 2002, handing the Serie A title to Juventus on the last day of the season.
“Atletico are a very well-organised side who reached the Final twice in three years, so their style of football is evidently effective.
“Could Simeone win the Champions League and then come to Inter? He is a good Coach, I hope he can come to San Siro, but not that he wins.
“I expect a really tight game, as Real Madrid are stronger since Zidane took over and finally play the kind of football I like.”