Federico Valverde has warned Manchester City that Real Madrid’s Champions League pedigree could give them an edge as they seek to end the holders’ five-and-a-half-year undefeated home record in the competition by knocking them next week.
City drew 3-3 with Real in Tuesday’s first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. Pep Guardiola’s side are favourites to go through in next Wednesday’s return, in part because of home advantage – City’s last Champions League defeat at the Etihad Stadium came against Lyon in September 2018.
Valverde was reminded of this but pointed to how his teammates Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal, Nacho and Toni Kroos have each won the competition five times. “It’s very even,” said the Uruguay midfielder. “We’re two of the best in the Champions League, we’re two very good teams. They have that plus of playing at home but we will bring the fight and try to do the best. We’re going to fight, as we always do. We have lots of players who have won five Champions Leagues, we have to make that count. There’s always a first time [to end the home record]. You always have to believe, to have conviction. Us especially. We’re an example in that so that the fans believe. We are the first to believe it can be done. We have to work hard, every player has to give everything in every ball and if we all pull in the same direction I think we can do it.”
Valverde did admit that, having led 2-1 in the second half on Tuesday, the final result was somewhat deflating. “It’s not good because we would have liked to win. The draw feels like last year, like a defeat,” Valverde said in reference to Real’s defeat to City in last season’s semi-final. “What was important was that we responded to their goal. We were good, at 2-1 we lacked pressing them a bit higher so that they felt uncomfortable. And obviously there’s the tiredness, lots of minutes chasing and it was harder to come out on the counterattack.”
Valverde made the score 3-3 with a stunning 25-yard volley on 79 minutes. “It was incredible to score,” said the 25-year-old. “I would have liked the result to have been different to have been able to celebrate it and see my family celebrate.”
