The Bernabéu and European football need each other
Real Madrid's fans have a date: on Tuesday evening at 7pm outside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, just before the Champions League quarter-final second leg. The aim: to greet their team like victorious Roman Legionaries. It's our way of setting the team on the road to victory in this thrilling encounter against Bayern Munich. An old, beloved enemy. Once again, our path crosses with that of the proud Bavarians, who have added to their winning DNA the wisdom and calm patience of Ancelotti.
Real Madrid still have work to do against Bayern Munich
It's wonderful that the Real Madrid fans come together to show their support for Zidane's side as they reach the stadium, so that the players know from the off that the hard work is still to be done. With Bayern you can't trust any situation. Of course Real Madrid start with a solid advantage, having won 1-2 in the Allianz, but with Lewandowski and Vidal on the pitch, they are going to die trying to turn this tie around.
Real Madrid have to think it's 0-0
That's why my advice to our players is for them to come out as if the tie were starting right there and then. Far better to come out thinking you have to win, than think you might be able to hold onto a slender lead; particularly given the fans at the Bernabéu, who drive the team on on European nights. I know we don't need to turn things around, and at heart that's what us Madridistas love to have to do in a second leg at the Bernabéu, but equally it would be a pleasure to use wisely the advantage we gained in Munich, to be able to punish Neuer and company for any lapses from their battered defence.
The Bernabéu deserves a night of European glory
We can't go out thinking about the draw or anything of the sort. The best thing would be to beat them again. The Bernabéu deserves a glorious night. And for that we need to mercilessly defeat Bayern. Hala Madrid!