Butragueño: “We have two very close and tough games ahead of us”
“We have full confidence in our players, in their competitive character, their experience and also in everything that this competition means to us,” said Real Madrid's Director of Institutional Relations.
Emilio Butragueño, the club's director of Institutional Relations, discussed the last-16 Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid on Realmadrid TV: “The draw has decided that we will face Atlético. We know each other very well, we know how difficult the tie will be, but at the same time, everyone knows how much we relish this competition.”
“The team's performance against Manchester City was extraordinary. We have two very close and tough games ahead of us. In the first match at the Bernabéu we are relying on our fans and on getting a result that will allow us to defend it in the second and reach the quarter-finals. We have to play two magnificent matches because of the category of our opponents, but we have full confidence in our players and their ability to overcome all the difficulties.”
How do Madrid go into the tie after beating Manchester City?
“The two games the team played against City were extraordinary. We were better in both. In the first leg in Manchester, I think the team should have got a better result even though we won 2-3. And then on Wednesday, to be honest, we were superior in every aspect. The team put on an exhibition and the scoreline should have been wider as well. In that regard, it is a boost to everyone's confidence. We have to continue in this line of intensity, concentration and defensive solidarity. City's first shot was in the 65th minute, which says a lot about that defensive system and how the team was able to block players as talented as City's in attack. It's a great stepping stone for everything that is ahead of us, which is very demanding. We have a very difficult schedule and we are going to need all the players. What happened in this tie has to help us in all aspects for the following matches.”
Not having to travel
“We should point out that playing both matches in Madrid as opposed to playing against Bayer Leverkusen is an important factor. That second game in Germany would mean arriving in Madrid at 5 o'clock in the morning with the negative aspect of the preparation for the next league game. In any event, this draw has turned out the way it has and we have to prepare well for these two matches in the hope of reaching the quarter-finals, which is our objective.”
Previous meetings
“They are in the past. It will be a different tie, with different players. Some of our players are still there but it will be something different. Those ties and two finals were very close and I think that's what's going to happen now as well. They have a great team and we have to play and perform very well in order to progress. But I insist, we have full confidence in our players, in their competitive character, their experience and also in everything that this competition means to us."