Dani Carvajal was named MVP of the Champions League final by the UEFA panellists. The defender scored our team’s first goal with a magnificent glancing header to lead Real Madrid to victory at Wembley. At the end of the match, the full-back expressed his delight: “I don’t know how to describe it because it’s immense joy and it was going to be a very difficult game. In the first half we managed to survive because Dortmund were superior, but we were going to have our moment and in the end we got number 15.”
“I would have preferred to win more comfortably. Dortmund were here on merit and in the first half we didn’t deserve to go in level. We had to dig in, but that’s football.”
His goal
“This year I was going up for corners and for me it’s all about determination. In one I went in a little high and for the second one I headed it in.”
Feelings
“I’m delighted. Especially to win this new European Cup for the club. On a personal level, scoring a goal in a Champions League final is an incredible feeling. Even when the game is deadlocked, it’s an incredible feeling. It’s been a dream day for me.”
“I’m very pleased to be joining this very select club of five players who have won six European Cups. Every time we win one, it’s going to be more difficult for them to take it away from us because it’s so hard to win a European Cup. I’m really happy, especially for being able to enjoy all six as a starter with my lifelong club. I’m buzzing right now.”
Feelings after the goal
“The goal is proof of confidence. When the referee blew the final whistle, I was thrilled to know that my children and my wife were in the stadium. Seeing how I arrived as a kid and here I am, with two children and 21 years defending the shirt of this club and making history with the team. It’s fantastic and we’re going to enjoy it and celebrate, we deserve it.”
“I ran out to celebrate. Inside I felt like there was a kind of scoring rage, a feeling of ‘here I am’. It’s not all about height, after all, going into the clashes and jumping in with determination often brings you success.”
Message to Gento and promotion for Leganés
“Hopefully Leganés can get up tomorrow, I’ll be keeping an eye on them. They almost had it the other day, it was a pity about the last few minutes. To Paco Gento, we’ve matched him, it seemed impossible. We joined him, it’s fantastic. Why not dream of one more? But let’s enjoy it now, it’s a fantastic moment, and whatever comes in the future will come.”
Striker’s instinct
“In the approach I had to do some blocking or attack hard at the near post. I saw that my marker wasn’t too close with me, I saw the space and I decided to attack at the near post.”
“The first thing for a full-back is to defend. Today I was decisive offensively, but for the moment I’m sticking to the defensive positions.”
Feeling like a legend
“Maybe I should leave it like Kroos after this goal, only joking (laughs). I think it closes a fantastic circle. I laid the first stone 20 years ago and whoever knows me and knows what I work on every day and what I try to show in the dressing room. When several players and staff tell you that you deserve it, you end up believing it. When you’re consistent, success comes along and the reward arrives.”
A tough game
“It was a very poor first half from us and a very good one from Dortmund, we didn’t deserve to go in level, that’s the reality. In the dressing room when we got to half-time we knew and said that we had survived a bad first half. We had our moment and in the second half we didn’t have to dig in as much. The intensity in the first half took its toll on them and we found more space and we managed to counteract that.”
Gento
“I haven’t had the opportunity to chat with him too much. When he travelled with us he was a person who commanded a lot of respect because he is a legend at the club. He was very polite and close to the dressing room. He will always remain in everyone’s memory as a great madridista and as a legend.”
