Champions League Final 2016: Players, Coaches React to Real Madrid vs. Atletico

Cristiano Ronaldo told manager Zinedine Zidane he was going to score the winning goal even before he took the fifth and decisive penalty to help Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 5-3 on penalties and win the UEFA Champions League on Saturday.  

Real Madrid needed Ronaldo to settle things from the spot after Sergio Ramos and Yannick Carrasco each scored in regulation time before things ended 1-1 after extra time.

It's Los Blancos' 11th European Cup win, and Ronaldo revealed on Spanish TV (h/t ESPN's Dermot Corrigan) how he had foreshadowed his moment of glory to Zidane:

This is the second Champions League that Ronaldo has won with Real in the last three seasons. The prolific No. 7 felt his side's greater experience gave them the edge against their local rivals, according to Squawka News:

Buoyed by victory, Ronaldo shrugged off talk of winning another Ballon d'Or, insisting this trophy will always be more important, per SB at RealMadridPlace:

But Ronaldo was quick to give credit to the role played by Zidane, who succeeded Rafa Benitez as manager during the season:

Yet Zidane passed the credit to those who helped make his instant achievement possible, per the tournament's official site:

But the manager did allow himself a moment of pride for his success in many guises at this level, according to Corrigan:

His victory as an assistant came two years ago while Carlo Ancelotti was in charge. Zidane revealed how the Italian told him winning as the man in charge would be different, per the Champions League:

Real president Florentino Perez has been impressed by his rookie manager—so much so that he intends to keep Zidane in the hot seat a little while longer, per Corrigan:

Zidane's opposite number, Diego Simeone, was more direct. The man who was also beaten in 2014 pulled no punches when categorising another near miss:

But the Atleti chief refused to blame his players, instead praising the group who had navigated a tough path to the final:

Simeone also offered a fairly cryptic reference to his future:

There's no doubt most clubs in the game would jump at the chance to hire the man who has won La Liga and taken Atletico to a pair of Champions League finals in the last three years.

Simeone's players wouldn't want to see their leader leave, though. Skipper Gabi, the boss on the pitch, is clear about his thinking. He confirmed the team will immediately turn its thoughts toward next season, per Atleti English:

Atletico more than played their part in a dramatic final, and while it's no consolation, their performances in the tournament have been exceptional this season. But the same is true of a Real side that is equally stingy at the back and prolific in attack.

Los Blancos are worthy winners.