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Vidic: Manchester United must prove Champions League credentials after early exit last year
Feb 13, 2013 10:25:00 AM
The centre-back has called on his fellow team-mates to banish the disappointments of 2011-12 and triumph over Real Madrid to advance to the quarter-final stage
| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.25 | Draw £38.00 | Real Madrid £25.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £25.00 | Draw £35.00 | Real Madrid £26.20 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.00 | Draw £34.00 | Real Madrid £26.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.00 | Draw £36.00 | Real Madrid £25.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £25.00 | Draw £35.00 | Real Madrid £26.20 |
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Nemanja Vidic has admitted Manchester United were "too confident" in the Champions League group stage last season, and now must prove their European credentials against Real Madrid.
The Premier League leaders have never tasted victory at Bernabeu over Los Blancos, but the centre-back believes his side’s early exit in 2011 will act as a source of encouragement to progress to the quarter-final stage.
"We have a lot of things to prove.” Serbia international Vidic told the Daily Mirror. “Last season, we were too confident in the group stage.
"We lost some points but we thought we were going to go through. The boss made it clear last season wasn't good enough. But we know that ourselves."
Real Madrid have endured an inconsistent domestic campaign, winning just seven of their last 14 league outings, but Vidic is not taking anything for granted.
After conceding six goals in as many group games before the turn of the year, the Serbian recognised that such carelessness at the back will be duly punished by Madrid and urged his fellow team-mates to focus in all areas of the pitch.
Vidic added to FourFourTwo magazine: "You have to have a winning mentality if you play for Manchester United.
"When you have a season without trophies like last year it makes you realise that you have to improve. You have to learn from your mistakes.
"The approach this year has been different in the Champions League. We're going to have to play as a team. We need to get it right defensively and not concede as many goals in the first leg.
"You have to be solid. Not just at the back but all over the pitch. You have to have quality."
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
10:07 PM BST
Some early reaction from the man of the moment, Arjen Robben, who's unsurprisingly overcome with emotion.
"I heard so many people saying in the last weeks saying they would grant me this. They told me: 'You'll score the goal.' It’s not quite sunk in yet. There’s a lot of emotion.
"You know, this was such a close match. A match with two teams at the same level. It was an even game: they had chances; we had chances. For the goal, though, I just reacted to Franck's flick and then the ball went in."
You'll never hear or read a more simplistic description of the Dutchman's Champions League winner!
"I heard so many people saying in the last weeks saying they would grant me this. They told me: 'You'll score the goal.' It’s not quite sunk in yet. There’s a lot of emotion.
"You know, this was such a close match. A match with two teams at the same level. It was an even game: they had chances; we had chances. For the goal, though, I just reacted to Franck's flick and then the ball went in."
You'll never hear or read a more simplistic description of the Dutchman's Champions League winner!
10:03 PM BST
Now it's Bayerns turn to climb Wembley's not-as-famous-as-they-used-to-be steps to collect their reward for sweeping all before them in Europe this season. They wait for their captain, Lahm, who takes a moment to compose himself before hoisting the Champions League trophy. After the misery of Munich 12 months ago, Bayern are now basking in the wonder of Wembley. Dortmund were magnificent but few could argue that Bayern have not been the best team in the Champions League this season. They deserve this, their inauguration as the new kings of Europe.
9:51 PM BST
Dortmund's crestfallen players are currently receiving their runners-up medals while Bayern are dancing down below. Such a contrast. Such a cruel game. But then, such is life. And life, as the Irish poet Keating memorably sang, is a rollercoaster - you've just got to ride it. Indeed, this fantastic Dortmund side will be back. Klopp will see to that - provided they don't keep losing all of their best players to Bayern of course ...
9:50 PM BST
Is it just me or is there a look of Tardelli about Robben in that pic below (albeit with less hair!)? His joy almost appears painful. Like it's all too much for him to take; that the enormity of what he's done, and what it means to him, is almost unbearable.
9:46 PM BST
We may have had a dramatic late winner at Wembley but that hasn't stopped us getting our match report and player ratings out bang on time. Both goalkeepers were absolutely sensational tonight but, for me, perhaps for sentimental reasons, Robben's man of the match. Once Bayern belatedly got themselves into the game, he was their principal goalscoring threat.
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