Manuel Pellegrini spoke about the approach his team will take against Madrid on Tuesday night. “You never quite know when you play at home first. You don’t want to take too much of a risk and concede at home,We want to go into the game in a balanced way and stop them scoring an away goal. If we can get a goal also, then great.”
This is Manchester City’s most important game in their history since the club have never reached the final of the Champions League and the manager knows that as well. “The way you win a title is very important, We won't just try to defend to reach the final. I have always tried to have a team who play good football, play well.”
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“It's important to reach this final, as it reflects the work we are doing for three years.Emotionally it is very important to have a hot heart but a cold mind, I think that is the lesson we must learn.”
The veteran manager is normally a very calm character, with most of his press conferences not being very eventful, but one reporter irked him a little bit when he was asked about Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘You’re a little bit obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo, aren’t you.” replied Pellegrini who was obviously not amused by the question. The manager has worked with Ronaldo before and was the person who brought him to the Bernabeu from Manchester United.
Pellegrini went on to say that Ronaldo is not the only player City must focus on as they have quality players in every position. ”We need to worry about Real Madrid as a team. We have to work as a team against them in defending and attacking.”
City were knocked out in the round of 16 in their previous two campaigns, both times by Barcelona. But this time they have avoided playing the Catalans. But Pellegrini wants his players to not repeat the mistakes they made in their previous two seasons
“Against Barcelona we played with one player less both times. We need our emotions under control tomorrow. I don't look back. I always prefer to think about what is happening now.” said the manager.
Pellegrini also confirmed that City will be without Yaya Toure after he was injured in the win over Stoke City on Saturday. But he believes Fernando and Fernandinho will do a good job. “Yaya is going to be out, I think. He has not recovered from the muscle injury. The two Brazilian lads have played well when they have played together, and in Europe as well.”
