Real Madrid have answered every question with the ultimate statement - a supreme Champions League final display

As undeniably brilliant as this team are now, it isn’t unfair to say that did not always seem the case

Real Madrid have silenced their critics with yet another title (Getty)

In so gloriously and finally defending their title to again re-assert their status as this great competition’s defining club, Real Madrid did not just respond to victory in the best way possible by just winning again, but also responded to every question and doubt thrown at them… by winning so well.

That was the extra gloss to this extra-level achievement.

Because, as undeniably brilliant as they are now, it isn’t unfair to say that did not always seem the case. When they won this trophy in 2014 and 2016, there was actually a very fair argument that they were far from Europe’s best team. There were so many times when they were just so unconvincing, when they looked less than the sum of their very expensive parts, and it didn’t look good that they couldn’t even become the best team in their country given their struggles to win a league.

None of that can be said now, because they have answered everything.

Even before they got here, they underlaid this victory in a knock-out competition with the proof of thoroughness and deep quality that comes with a league win, but also offered so many supreme performances en route to Cardiff.

That was what really stood out about this 12th Champions League victory of the club, how it was so fitting that a historic feat was achieved with such a supreme campaign and one of the great displays in a final. Real indeed seemed to be building up to this crescendo, as they offered ever greater football every time they were challenged.

They also saved their best for what was their most challenging campaign, too. If their paths to the 2014 and 2016 were said to be forgiving, this was anything but. There can be few routes as difficult as facing Napoli, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and this Juventus but the escalation in challenges only seemed to bring escalations in Real’s level of performance, as they grew as a team.


 Real Madrid are kings of Europe again 
 (Getty)

It can also be said Zinedine Zidane grew as a manager, particularly in the nuance and intelligence of certain decisions, like the way he got Cristiano Ronaldo to rest more so he could end up producing performances like this and the manner he introduced Isco to the starting XI to really complete it.

It just brought a greater level of cohesion, the new shape so evidently getting more out of every player, and making them more than everyone else in Europe.

There does of course remain fair debate over whether Zidane is actually that good manager or rather just especially suited to this type of challenge, and whether the main force behind this is the fact that Real are one of Europe’s wealthiest and grandest clubs, allowing them to assemble a squad that had a critical mass of quality.

But that’s all it is at the moment, debates at the fringes, because there can be no more criticism of this team.

They have answered every question. They have convinced. They have won a double. They have won two European Cups in a row. They have made history.

A knock-out competition like the Champions League isn't always won by the best team, but that is something else that can't be said right now.

Real have made the ultimate statement, with the ultimate statement, a final say with a supreme final display.