The former Real Madrid and Liverpool striker also believes the current holders are the favourites heading into the clash in Kiev
Former Real Madrid and Liverpool star Fernando Morientes has named Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah as the key men ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final.
But the former Spain international insists neither player can win it alone.
Morientes, who lifted the tournament an impressive three times, thinks Real have more to their game than just Ronaldo.
“Football is a collective game, so you can have Cristiano Ronaldo, but you need a team which works with him,” he said, speaking on behalf of Hankook Tire , official partner of Real Madrid.
“In my opinion, the key for Marid in recent years is that all the players around Cristiano Ronaldo have assembled perfectly, like [Luka] Modric and [Toni] Kroos in the midfield, Sergio Ramos as a captain, Marcelo on the left, [Dani] Carvajal on the right…Keylor Navas as well.
“I think success comes from the team, not just one player, but being able to assemble all of the pieces together with a coach like Zinedine Zidane, who gives harmony to the team which is not an easy thing to do.”
Madrid have made the European Cup their plaything, having claimed the title in three of the last four editions, but Morientes believes they will face a tough Liverpool side in Ukraine.
Morientes, who also turned out 61 times for Liverpool, compared the Reds’ Egyptian superstar Salah to Ronaldo, and thinks both men will make the difference in the final.
“The strength in both teams is in their forwards,” he added.
“With Real Madrid, it’s clear that Ronaldo is the best player in every match and the player Liverpool will have to take into consideration, obviously not forgetting the rest of the team.
“Regarding Liverpool, Salah is the key man, who has been performing to a very high level this season, and I think that both of them will be the key to the game.
“If we have to say one thing, I would say that Cristiano and Salah are the ones who can make the difference in the final.”
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