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Varane talent undisputed, says Mejia
Mar 16, 2013 3:10:00 PM
The Almeria defender has praised the new France international and believes he is fully deserving of his first team slot at the Santiago Bernabeu
| 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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By Alberto Pinero
Alvaro Mejia says Raphael Varane's talent is "undisputed" and praised him for his patience in winning a regular starting berth at Real Madrid.
In an exclusive interview with Goal.com, the Almeria centre-back - who played for the club for three years after coming through the Blancos youth system, was wholesome in his appraisal of the teenage defender.
He said: "I agree with everyone about Varane [that he is an exceptional talent]. He has waited for his opportunity, and with great performances in his position, has worked up to the point that it [his talent] is now undisputed."
The 28-year-old also gave his thoughts on former team-mate Diego Lopez, who rejoined Madrid in January following Iker Casillas' injury absence, and hailed the goalkeeper as one of the finest in Spain.
"I worked with him for many years at Real Madrid and in recent years he has proved that he is one of the best Spanish goalkeepers," he added.
"While at Villarreal, some of the best clubs in Europe had already become interested in him."
The Santiago Bernabeu side were paired with Galatasaray in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Friday and despite making the intimidating trip to Istanbul during his time with Konyaspor, Mejia claims Blancos' stadium is the more impressive of the two.
He continued: "The new stadium, the Turk Telekom Arena, is fantastic. It is very nice inside and out. There, football is almost a way of life. The public comes hours before the start of the game to begin to support.
"[However] between the Santiago Bernabeu and the Turk Telekom Arena, I think that Madrid is more impressive. The Bernabeu impresses any footballer, with the stands so high and so many people."
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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.
10:22 PM BST
Terrific stuff from Bayern attacking midfielder Thomas Muller, the kind of socks-around-the-ankles player that I think any true football fan inherently adores.
"It is hard to describe," he told ZDF. "I am completely done, I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically I am over the limit now.
"When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the triple, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."
"It is hard to describe," he told ZDF. "I am completely done, I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically I am over the limit now.
"When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the triple, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."
10:17 PM BST
An word from Goal Germany correspondent Tim Rohn on a night of redemption for Bayern Munich:
"One year after that bitter loss to Chelsea the Bayern are now the ones dancing on the pitch. BVB gets a farewell with much applause and a scraf parade. No matter that Bayern won: For every german football fan in London this will be a very long night."
"One year after that bitter loss to Chelsea the Bayern are now the ones dancing on the pitch. BVB gets a farewell with much applause and a scraf parade. No matter that Bayern won: For every german football fan in London this will be a very long night."
10:13 PM BST
Happily, Dortmund's players aren't feeling too down about things. They're proud of what they've done, and rightly so. They've lit up the competition with their fearless brand of football.
"We are proud," Weidenfeller told ZDF. "We stood up to Bayern and we've had a great season in the Champions League. We gave everything and did our best to win that trophy. But we will come back again."
Sebastian Kehl added: "We played a fantastic match and gave a great account of ourselves. We can be proud. And of course we will attack again next season."
"We are proud," Weidenfeller told ZDF. "We stood up to Bayern and we've had a great season in the Champions League. We gave everything and did our best to win that trophy. But we will come back again."
Sebastian Kehl added: "We played a fantastic match and gave a great account of ourselves. We can be proud. And of course we will attack again next season."
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.
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