Zinedine Zidane: 'Champions League success on par with lifting World Cup'

Zinedine Zidane has claimed that lifting the Champions League as manager of Real Madrid is on a par with winning the World Cup during his playing days.

The former France international, who was brought in midway through the season to replace Rafael Benitez, toasted success on Saturday night after Los Blancos edged out Atletico Madrid on pens.

A World Cup winner in 1998, Zidane refused to be drawn in on speculation over his future post match but was quick to praise his players for getting over the line in a pulsating clash at San Siro.

"At the end getting the Champions League is the best along with winning the World Cup," Sky Sports News quotes him as saying. "After all the work we did I am very proud, it has been a phenomenal job. I'm happy because I've been part of this great club for a long time now.

"I feel really very proud. The future? We'll see, now let's enjoy this. Of course I dreamed. You always have to dream, think positive, be optimistic, and know that things can get done with work and effort.

"I'm very happy for everything we've achieved together. It's not easy at all. We've really worked hard, fought it out. When you have players of this calibre, with this talent, you can achieve something big like we have tonight."

Zidane also won the Champions League with Real Madrid as a player in 2002, as well as playing a key part 12 years later when working as a coach under Carlo Ancelotti.