Champions League: Dias Asserts Man City's Potential Against Real Madrid

Synopsis

Ruben Dias expresses confidence in Manchester City's ability to achieve greatness this season, despite a challenging campaign. Currently fifth in the Premier League and 22nd in the Champions League, City prepares to face Real Madrid in the knockout stages, aiming to overcome past defeats.

Key Takeaways

Manchester City is determined to achieve success despite challenges.
Ruben Dias emphasizes the importance of belief in the team.
This marks the fourth consecutive season of City vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Guardiola acknowledges the need for improvement after a poor group stage.
City aims to leverage their talent effectively in upcoming matches.

Manchester, Feb 10 (NationPress) Ruben Dias is confident that Manchester City can still create something extraordinary this season, despite facing recent challenges. The defending Premier League champions have had a tumultuous campaign so far, currently positioned fifth in the league and ranked 22nd in the revamped Champions League standings.

City will host Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout stages before traveling to the Santiago Bernabeu for the return fixture.

"This has been the most challenging season since I arrived. However, I firmly believe that even in the toughest situations and beginnings, it is possible to achieve something beautiful in the end.

"We are still in that position right now. We understand the strength of our opponent and the challenges ahead. It’s about having faith in our squad, which is filled with talent. We must utilize that talent correctly. With the right belief, we can accomplish anything," Dias stated during the pre-match press conference.

Notably, this marks the fourth consecutive season that City and Real Madrid have faced each other in the Champions League.

Real Madrid narrowly claimed a thrilling semi-final victory 6-5 on aggregate in May 2022 and also defeated Guardiola’s side 4-3 on penalties last season in the quarter-finals after a gripping 4-4 draw over the two legs. In contrast, City secured a memorable 5-1 aggregate win in the semi-finals of 2023 on their way to a historic Treble.

Real Madrid ended up in 11th place in the Champions League standings, while City finished 22nd. Teams ranked ninth to sixteenth are seeded in the knockout playoffs, giving them home advantage in the second leg.

Guardiola addressed the concern of playing away in the second leg, but he brushed off the question, asserting that his team did not earn the home advantage.

"We are playing the second leg away because we underperformed in the group stage. Finishing in 22nd place means we cannot expect any favors. We didn't earn it; we didn't accumulate enough points to start in a better position. Perform better, and perhaps the draw would have been different," Guardiola remarked.