Turin: Cristiano Ronaldo has just become the first player to reach 100 wins in the Champions League, beating old rival Lionel Messi to the landmark.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri hailed the impact Cristiano Ronaldo was having on the Italian champions as the Portuguese star became the first player to win 100 Champions league matches by assisting Croatian teammate Mario Mandzukic to score the only goal of the match, which lead them to a 1-0 victory over Valencia clinching their passage to the knockout rounds.
Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo received his first ever Champions League red card in the reverse fixture against Valencia in September.
“Ronaldo gives us a sense of security and confidence,” said Allegri, coach of the team who lost out the finals twice in the last four editions of the Champions League. “The team is essentially the same as last season. We’ve grown, become faster in playing the ball, but then, of course, there is Cristiano Ronaldo.”
“This team is constantly improving – they’re passing and putting the play together more quickly.” Ronaldo who joined Juventus last summer from Real Madrid — is targeting a sixth Champions League title to add to his four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United.
“You can see how united we are including the forwards. All three of them – Ronaldo, Mandzukic, and Dybala, really put themselves about today. If we scrap like that, with the skill we have in the side, it makes everything much easier” said Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini.
“The match was decided by the great play by Cristiano,” said Valencia coach Marcelino Garcia, “but our team gave everything, showing great spirit against one of the best teams in Europe.”
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