Juventus defender Patrice Evra confirmed he will shake Luis Suarez's hand before the Champions League final with Barcelona despite their troubled past over a racism row
Patrice Evra
Madrid: Juventus defender Patrice Evra confirmed he will shake Luis Suarez's hand before the Champions League final with Barcelona despite their troubled past over a racism row.
Patrice Evra
Suarez was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Evra during their time at Liverpool and Manchester United respectively. The two then refused to shake hands in one further meeting between the sides, but Evra insists he will put that behind him when they come face-to-face in Berlin on June 6.
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"I am proud to be what I am, I am proud about my colour and I will shake his hand, it is no problem, but I will make sure he will feel me on the pitch," said the Frenchman. Barca are the favourites to win their fifth European Cup with their star front three of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar having scored 114 goals between them this season.
However, despite it being Juventus's first Champions League final in 12 years, Evra believes they have the experience to stop Barca's progress towards a treble. "People forget Juventus is a team with a lot of players that have already won the Champions League. They played in other finals too, like myself, this is my fifth final.
"I believe in everything, because if I don't believe we can win against Barcelona, I will ask the manager not to play me." Juventus booked their place in the final with a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid on Wednesday to seal a 3-2 aggregate win over the holders. Former Real striker Alvaro Morata came back to haunt his former side as, having already scored in the first leg, he notched the vital away goal for the Italian champions after Cristiano Ronaldo had opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
"We have fought so hard to get here, but this does not end here. We want to win the final and make history, but we're very happy," said Morata. "I didn't celebrate the goal, I was never going to. It was a bittersweet and strange sensation for me. These two games have been difficult for me. I want to thank the Madrid fans, I wish I had scored against another team.
"My former team-mates want us to win and they wished me the best. "Just like in Turin, it was hard for me at times tonight but I had to focus my head quickly. That's what football is like."
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