Madrid can compete and win the Champions League - Mendieta

Gaizka Mendieta

considers

Zinedine Zidane

as one of the best managers in Europe and believes

are the favourites to grab the

title.

Los Blancos came out winners 13 times, which is a record in the competition’s history. They will get ready to face

in the second leg on Wednesday. The Real Madrid boss has won the title four times as a player and manager.

Before Wednesday’s clash, Mendieta was surprised to see many label Zidane’s side as outsiders.

"

How many Champions Leagues has Zidane won? Four! That's a lot of luck,"

Mendieta joked in an interview with 

Goal

.

"Any team in sport needs a bit of luck in specific games. For Zidane, as a manager, he might have had some luck but over the length of his management career, that's not why he has been successful.

"Look at the Clasico the other day, he put the team out tactically, not just to stop Barca, but he created harm and danger through his system. He read the game well with his substitutions. He doesn't get enough credit as he deserves for what he does.

"I think some people think it is luck but you can't be successful constantly through luck. He is one of the most impressive managers at the moment."

Mendieta hailed Zidane’s side for their rich vein of form and impressive performances in big games, saying:

"Madrid can switch on through their DNA in the Champions League to compete and win. They have key players missing but they still find a way.

"I think it is massively down to Zidane that even when players aren't regulars that they can step in and perform, so they don't miss their key players. It comes from motivation and preparation, with the manager who has helped Madrid since he has been there."

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