Schweini understands Zidane after Materazzi spat

17 March 2011 - 18:28 By Sapa-AFP
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Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger says he can now understand Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi after the German clashed with the Italian in Tuesday’s Champions League match.

Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League at Munich’s Allianz Arena after holders Inter Milan earned a 3-2 win to level the round of 16 tie 3-3 on aggregate and reach the last eight on the away goals rule.

Schweinsteiger, 26, clashed angrily with Materazzi, 37, after the final whistle and claims the Italian centre-back, who spent the game on the Inter bench, had provoked him before and after the match.

“Now I can understand Zidane,” fumed Schweinsteiger, in reference to the Frenchman’s notorious headbutt on Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, which resulted in a red card for Zidane before Italy went on to lift the title.

The Italian veteran retaliated by slamming Schweinsteiger after both had to be restrained on the pitch in the wake of Bayern’s defeat.

The home defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Bavarian giants, who lost 2-0 to Inter in last season’s Champions League final and lost the second leg despite having won the first leg 1-0 in Milan a fortnight ago.

But Materazzi was in no mood to sympathise.

“Schweinsteiger talks too much, I have only a few words to say about him,” the Italian told German daily Bild.

“He just wanted to make something up so he could call me a trouble-maker.

“He has been slagging off Inter for the last two weeks and said Tuesday’s game should have been revenge for last season’s defeat in Madrid and was curious to see if we would play like typical Italians.

“He said he only knew the faces of the Milan team, but I think he knows who we are now.

“If he says I am a trouble-maker, perhaps he means the moment I reminded him that it is better to talk after you have won and not before.”

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