Real Madrid director has warned about Champions League complacency vs Roma
Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno has warned his club that they cannot take their Champions league opponents Roma easy, when Los Blancos meet Seria A outfit in the knockout stage of competition.
Rudi Garcia’s Roma was in the same group of Real’s arch rivals Barcelona in the round of 32 and endured humiliating 6-1 defeat at Camp Nou, before settling for a 1-1 draw in the Italy.
Here goes a quick recap of their last encounter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1j5UJFQzqg
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And, Emilio Butragueno believes Roma are capable of giving Real Madrid a hard time over the two legs of the tie, and they have to be their best to see them through.
“Roma are a tough side, they’ll be really up for it and they compete well,” he said on UEFA’s official website. “If we see ourselves as favourites things won’t go well for us. Roma are an Italian side and Italian teams give you nothing.”
Meanwhile, Roma head coach Rudi Garcia is anticipating the opportunity of facing team like Real Madrid, and feels in order to reach to the quarter finals of the Champions league they have to manage a upset, while asking fans to get behind the team.
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For me, this is a great draw,” he told Roma Radio. “To be able to face a side like Real Madrid — one of the favourites to win the Champions League — is a good thing.
“We’re going to have to create an upset to reach the quarterfinals, but I hope the Olimpico is full to the rafters on Feb. 17. It’s important to have the fans behind you. They can give you those two or three extra points in a season and our fans deserve success.
“This is what you play in the Champions League for, to face the best. I’ve only played against Real Madrid in friendlies, but this is a different story.”