CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
“The winner of this tie will win the Champions League”, say Manchester City fans ahead of Real Madrid clash
Travelling City fans were asked by AS what they thought of the prospect of facing Real Madrid twice in two seasons.
Manchester City make their second trip to Madrid in two years as they take on Europe’s most successful team in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg today, 9 May (3 p.m.). AS travelled to the centre of the city to speak to the travelling supporters and find out if the pain from last season was still there, or if the wounds had healed and they thought that this season, the City machine has what it takes to defeat the Kings of the continent.
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Last season, Real Madrid came back from a 2-goal deficit in a flash of lightning and a puff of smoke, as two late goals drew them level on aggregate before a Benzema penalty in extra-time sealed the deal and sent City fans searching for cancellation fee compensation on travel apps and Parisian hotels. This season, however, it appears as though the mood is positive.
City fans already have Istanbul final plans ready
“It’s not difficult to predict”, one City fan said when asked, “We are a better team than last year, [Real Madrid] are not a better team than last year. I’ve seen them play in Europe this season and they’ve been average, so 0-2 City, quite comfortable, and then 2-0 at home. I think 4-0 overall and I’ve already started planning my trip to Istanbul!”
When asked to expand on his prediction, the fan, sitting enjoying the sun, atmosphere and overpriced beer in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, said that he felt “really confident” about both the semi-final and any potential final against either team from Milan: “We will beat either Milan team, they both play defensively and play on the counter, we will have 70% possession, they will have 30% - this is our season. The treble is on.”
‘Now we can win games we don’t deserve to’
Another pair of City fans we asked also though their team would come away with a positive result tonight, with one predicting a 1-2 win for Guardiola’s side, although without letting it be know that he “would take a draw. I think Pep will go out, like every game, and play his own football.” However, this slightly more realistic prediction was overshadowed by the claim from another fan who said that “Manchester City will go through. We’ll lift the cup and I think we’ll win 2-1 or 3-1 tonight”. Confidence is not low with the away fans in the Spanish capital.
Ed, a Manchester City fan since the 80s, felt positive but also acknowledged the strength and history of Real Madrid, saying that “the winner of this tie will win the Champions League. I think we’ll win by at least two goals today, I think we will go through and I think we will win it.” He also cited why he believed City were the favourites against the 14-time winners: “I think last year Madrid got through in games that they didn’t deserve to win, but they were just clinical. Madrid were out against Chelsea and they got through, Madrid were out against City and they got through. I’m not sure if this team is actually better [than in 2018], but now we can win games that we maybe don’t deserve to win.”
One fan, a Norwegian who travelled to Madrid to watch the game, said how he believes Haaland will have a special night at the Bernabéu, saying that the City forward “is the world’s best striker right now, no doubt about that. And if he’s in the mood today he’s going to score three goals, sorry Madrid!”
