MADRID, 18 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The director of Institutional Relations for Real Madrid, Emilio Butragueño, acknowledged that they already know that English Chelsea, their rival in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, “is a very strong, solid and cohesive team” and that they also have, like the Madrid team “an offensive mentality”.
“We all know what Chelsea is. They won the Champions League last year and we faced them in the semi-finals, they are a very strong, solid and cohesive team. The second game is at the Bernabéu and it can be an advantage as long as we get a good result in the first leg. We’re excited about trying to get to the semi-finals”, Butragueño told ‘RMTV’ after the draw.
The manager made it clear that they are “focused on arriving well and with all the available players” and not on “other details that have nothing to do with the game” such as that their rival will play without an audience due to what is happening at the institutional level after the UK ban on Russian businessman Roman Abramovich.
“In this football you never know, we will know when the qualifying rounds are over. They are going to be two very nice games for the fans because we are two teams with an offensive mentality and they want to command the game. The fans are going to enjoy and see who is the strongest. We have to face it and prepare well, with confidence in the players and the support of our fans, being aware of the rival we are going to have”, continued the Madrid manager.
Nor did he want to think about a possible derby with Atlético in the semifinals if both eliminate Chelsea and Manchester City because “it is so far away and there is so much ahead.” “We have to be focused on the quarterfinals and hopefully we can think about the semifinals from day 12 or 13,” he warned.
“Thinking beforehand doesn’t make any sense, but all the qualifiers are going to be very difficult for all the teams and those that reach the semi-finals will be very tough rivals”, emphasized Emilio Butragueño.
Finally, he recalled that the comeback against PSG “was a huge boost for Real Madrid and a very deep feeling of pride”. “But our history also tells us that this should be a reference for future goals. We have to try to create a similar night and that Real Madrid, when it’s over, feel proud of the team. Everyone knows what this competition means to us. We are always facing the best in the world and it is very difficult,” he said.