Ronaldo Is Not Real Madrid Key Player-Simeone

Los Blancos have Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in

their ranks but the Argentine has singled out the midfielder for praise.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has described Casemiro as Real

Madrid's most important player ahead of Saturday's Champions League

final.

The two sides meet at San Siro in a repeat of the 2014 showpiece, when

Atletico led 1-0 until deep into stoppage time only for Sergio Ramos to

rescue Madrid, who went on to win 4-1 after extra time.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale make up a

formidable frontline for Madrid, but Simeone believes it is holding midfielder

Casemiro who will be the key for his side's rivals.

Asked during Friday's media conference if he felt Casemiro was the most

important cog in the Madrid machine, Simeone replied: "For the balance of

Real Madrid, yes, certainly.

"It's going to be a very tense, balanced game. The presence of Casemiro

gives them the possibility of regrouping better if they lose the ball.

"Casemiro makes Madrid very dangerous on the counter-attack. If you give

them space they're very dangerous."

Simeone insists he is not burdened by the ambition to lift the trophy for the

first time in Atletico's history, and says a consistency in philosophy has

been key to their success in recent years.

"The club, the players, it's reinventing itself continuously," he said. "And

that's what's most valuable in this club. Everyone works with the idea of

continuing to grow, you try and try again and if you continue you eventually

get what you want.

"To play a final is fantastic, to win it... there is nothing better.

It makes you

continue to prepare yourself for these moments.

"Not change the structure or the identity, but repeat, repeat, repeat and you

can achieve things.

"I think the continuity in the successes the club has had positions you a lot

better as one of the best clubs in Europe.

"Few teams are better - perhaps Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid - but

there's an idea about how we work and that's what allows us to be in this

privileged position.

"The only way of maintaining that is by winning."