Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has warned his former club their thrilling Champions League wins over PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City will be forgotten if they fail to win the trophy on Saturday.
The former goalkeeper won the tournament three times with Los Blancos and holds the record for the most Champions League clean sheets.
‘The comebacks are all very well, but now you have to secure it, we’re missing the cherry,’ he told Marca. ‘If you don’t secure that cherry, the cake won’t be complete, no?’
Real Madrid have enjoyed an eventful run to this year’s final. In the first knockout round, Carlo Ancelotti’s side needed a late hattrick from Karim Benzema in the second leg to see off PSG 3-2 on aggregate.
The Quarter final looked to be more straight forward after another Benzema hattrick put Real 3-1 up in the away leg, but an inspired Chelsea fightback took tie tie to extra time at the Bernabeu. Karim Benzema yet again provided the winning goal after 96 minutes.
He was at it again in the semi final, as the Frenchman scored three goals across the two legs, including a 95th minute penalty, to send Real into the final. Benzema has 15 goals in 11 Champions League games this season.
While it has been an undoubtedly impressive route to the final, Casillas was keen to stress it will mean nothing if Real cannot win the trophy.
He said: ‘If the cup doesn’t arrive in the cabinet, nobody will remember what happened with PSG, Chelsea and with Manchester City. In order to be thrilling, it has to be until the end, with the prize.’
‘Real Madrid and Liverpool are the two best teams in the world at the moment and they deserve this final. Each with their players and their style, they cannot commit errors. And I think that’s the key, committing few errors, being practical and intelligent.’
The final will take place in Paris this Saturday. It is an important tie for both sides, as Liverpool look to salvage the treble after finishing second in the Premier League and Real Madrid aim for their 14th European Cup three years after their last triumph.