The party doesn’t start until May 26 in Kiev, but the UEFA Champions League Final mind games have already begun. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos got the smack talk started by claiming Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is “just one of 11 players.”
Ramos said the PFA Player of the Year will not be the only focus for his side as they prepare for the big game. It makes sense given that Liverpool’s attacking trio, not just Mo Salah, broke Real Madrid’s record for the highest scoring triad in a single UCL tournament. However, it’s worth nothing that Roma, in the last round, also said they were going to focus on the Liverpool attack, and not on Salah.
Obviously, it didn’t work out too well.
“We have seen what Salah can do this season, but he will just be one of eleven players we face against Liverpool. Throughout my career, I have faced the best forward players in the world — many of them who are considered among the greatest ever,” said Sergio Ramos.
“For me, there is never a fear,” Ramos added. “A respect, yes, but never a fear.”
So while Ramos says he respects the Ballon d’Or candidate, he does not fear him. He also had to throw in a little dig at the Reds, bringing up the fact that they began their exciting European run in the qualifying round.
“We are ready to defend our title for a second time,” Sergio Ramos added.
“We won’t let it go easily. With all respect, maybe at the start of the campaign Liverpool were not the team people thought would be in the final. But they are here because they deserve to be here. We know as a team how to play finals — and we will be ready.”
The reigning back to back European champions are naturally favored in the final, backed to win at 14/19. Liverpool’s odds of Final triumph are 9/7.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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