GONZALO HIGUAIN admits he is still haunted by his performance in the 2014 World Cup final ahead of Juventus’ Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Saturday.
But he is confident the Italian giants can make history by lifting the famous trophy for the first time since 1996.
The Argentine has enjoyed an impressive first season with the Old Lady following a controversial £78m move from rivals Napoli in the summer.
His 24 Serie A strikes helped his new club to a scintillating league and cup double, and is one game away from giving his side a historic treble against his former team -Los Blancos – at the Millennium Stadium.
However, backtrack three years and the 29-year-old says he still hasn’t recovered from his last major final on the international stage.
Leading up to it he had failed to score a single goal in the tournament.
A disallowed strike in the final against eventual winners Germany summed up his contribution, and despite admitting to have improved under pressure, his Maracana outing is one he wishes to leave well behind him.
“I’ll just say if I play a final like that, don’t come to ask me for an interview,” he told the Daily Mail.
“I’ve been playing football for 11 years in Europe, so i know how to control my emotions pretty well.
“Certain moments are more difficult than others, but I am used to that, so let’s just hope we can make history.
“We’re one step away so let’s hope we do it.”
Despite the challenge that lay ahead for Juventus – a Madrid side who brushed aside Barcelona to be crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 2012 – Higuain is hoping for a hard-fought match to end a great year for the club.
“I hope, like all of us, for a hard and beautiful final,” he said.
“When we saw each other for the first time all together in August, standing with this season and this team in front of us we knew we could have a magnificent year.”