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Real Madrid hopes to carry their momentum from Saturday’s ‘ El Clasico’ victory over rivals Barcelona into their Champions League quarter-final first leg at struggling Wolfsburg on Wednesday.
Zidane’s side have been in fine form in Europe this season, conceding just three goals, and are currently unbeaten as they seek to claim an unprecedented 11th European title.
“There are many players you could name that could give us problems. I must say that the team altogether is very physically fit, strong and quick to attack. I can say that we will definitely have difficulties, but what’s most important is that we concentrate on ourselves and what we’re doing and prepare for that and perform how Real Madrid performs,” Zidane said.
Their opponents, Wolfsburg, have already created history having reached the last eight of the competition for the first time.
“I realise the question and everybody knows that it’ll be extremely difficult for us in two games to get ahead of Real. We all know that, we’re realistic. But when there’s only a small chance, Real gives us a small chance, then we’ll seize it. And for that I need you, the spectators, to help make this sensation. I need a team that will go through fire, and they will,” Hecking said.
In the other game, Manchester City will be without Ivory coast international Yaya Toure who has been ruled out of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain with a knee injury.
City will also be without captain Vincent Kompany, but manager Pellegrini is optimistic at Man City’s chances.
“Well I think it’s important for all of us, the club, for the manager, for the players maybe. The last two seasons we couldn’t continue in this competition because we played against a very strong team like Barcelona. Now we improve this season, we know it’s a very difficult game that we must play tomorrow but we know we will have chances to continue and that will be very important for all of us,” Pellegrini said.
For Paris St Germain coach Laurent Blanc possession will be a crucial determining factor in the outcome of Wednesday.
The two mega-rich clubs will both be under pressure to progress as they lock horns in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.“We have nothing to prove to Man City, we have to show that there are owners who arrived, they put very very substantial financial means at the disposal of the club. On a national level, we are in the process of really setting up our domination, we also want to try to do it in Europe but it’s much harder and much longer. But we have nothing to prove to Man City, it’s not a challenge in regards to Man City, well I mean that’s the way I see it,” Blanc said.
It will be the battle of the strikers as Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in each of his last four Champions League games, while Sergio Aguero has scored 16 goals in his last 18 Champions League starts.
