On Wednesday, Real Madrid play hosts to Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
The two clubs already faced once in the league phase at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Los Blancos losing 1-2.
This time around, with Alvaro Arbeloa at the helm, the Spanish capital club are hoping for a different outcome so that they can enter the second leg at Etihad with an advantage.
On the eve of the match, Real Madrid midfielder and second captain Federico Valverde addressed the media in the pre-match press conference, where he expressed confidence about getting a positive result against Manchester City.
“What’s coming up is incredible. We’re very confident going into a match that everyone loves to play. We know how important the fans are, because with them everything is easier. We need them, and then we’ll give it our all,” he said, highlighting the fans.
On whether the absence of Kylian Mbappe due to knee injury hurts the team, Valverde added:
“He’s a very important player… but I, as a player, now that we’re focused, am only thinking about this: giving my all. It’s very important that we all give 100%.”
Regarding the French forward’s decision to seek a second opinion on his injury from outside the club, the captain remarked:
“I have everything here, it’s the best club in the world and the best people are here. I trust everyone here. I trust my body to a physiotherapist here and I defer to his opinions.
“I’m very calm and I’m only thinking about City. Nothing from outside is going to distract us.”
On whether tomorrow’s match is an opportunity to other players to step up, Valverde elaborated: “Everyone. From the first player to the last; and from the first to the last member of the coaching staff.
“We are giving our all so that things improve and the fans can be proud of us. We are all pulling in the same direction. We are very united and working to the fullest.”
Talking about the academy players making their way into the first-team setup in recent weeks, Valverde highlighted Thiago Pitarch, in particular, saying:
“I’m so happy that young people are being given opportunities. They’re working spectacularly… they run so much! It’s amazing that they come with this enthusiasm, with this joy.
“Thiago is playing well, but I want to emphasize that they should be good people off the field.”
Discussing his role in the tactical setup under Arbeloa and whether he would have preferred to have a greater hand in the team’s buildup play, Valverde explained:
“I always try to adapt to the ideas the coach or the coaching staff wants. I’ve played in many positions, not always in midfield, but I try to contribute, to give my best.
“The manager wants me to spread out, control the ball, and play with the full-back or winger; since sometimes I have to play more freely, score, assist… I try to adapt. For me, just being in the starting eleven… that’s the most important thing.”
Federico Valverde of Real Madrid
Ready for the Man City challenge. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Giving an insight into the mood inside the locker room ahead of facing Manchester City, after having lost to them once this season, Valverde noted:
“We’re really excited and eager. We did a great job at the Bernabéu, until they came back and won. From then on, they dominated. But we’ve worked hard and we know what each of us has to do.
“This year, we haven’t had the same situation where all 11 of us defended; we haven’t been prepared for whatever the opponent wanted. Now we’re in good shape, focused. These kinds of matches are tough and we want to be mentally and physically prepared.”
On the message that he passes on to his teammates to encourage them to give it their all, Valverde stated:
“He should train to the fullest; always be ready to help the team. There are good times and bad times, but you should always be willing to give your all.
“Whether I’m in pain or not, I always try to give my best. I want them to feel proud to have Valverde, a teammate, a brother, on the field. You always have to be ready to help.”
Commenting on how things will be different from the 1-2 loss to City earlier in the campaign, he explained:
“As I said before, it’s a slightly different match than last time. Now it’s a two-legged affair, and that changes things quite a bit. But it’s important to get a good result for the return leg, because playing there with their fans… it makes a big difference.
“We’ve worked really hard and we don’t want a repeat of last time, when we let it slip away because of our own mistakes.”
Commenting on the quality of the Manchester City squad, he added: “They are players in good form, who know what they are doing and who are world-class. We must keep an eye on all of them.”
Valverde also reiterated that the team were confident going into the game after having won against Celta Vigo last week.
“The result the other day really boosted our morale. We needed it. We must continue to improve both our play and our personal development; we’re winning matches, but not playing our best. But we needed to win to come into this match with renewed energy.
“It’s been a tough few months, we’re aware of that, and we’ve worked hard to turn things around this season. We need to stay focused on what we have to do. Let’s get behind the team,” he concluded.
Source: AS