Five ways Real Madrid can ensure their domination continues
CARDIFF (Reuters) - Real Madrid 12th European Cup and third Champions League triumph in four years on Saturday, becoming the first team to retain the trophy in the competition’s expanded format, demonstrated their power over the rest of Europe.
Zinedine Zidane led his team to the club’s first La Liga and Champions League double since 1958 after they saw off the threat of Barcelona to earn the Spanish title too, but they will not rest on their laurels.
Here are five moves the European champions could make to ensure their domination continues next season:
CHANGE OF GOALKEEPER
Costa Rican Keylor Navas has been criticised for inconsistency. Against Real Betis in March, he was lucky to avoid a red card before fumbling Antonio Sanabria’s strike over the line, but Madrid ran out 2-1 winners.
In the latter stages of the campaign he improved and made some fine stops on the final day against Malaga to ensure his team lifted the title for the first time since 2012.
Against Juventus he denied Miralem Pjanic well early on but might have done better to keep out Mario Mandzukic’s spectacular bicycle kick equaliser. A move for Manchester United’s David de Gea has long been rumoured and it would be no surprise to see Madrid sign a new goalkeeper.