For the third consecutive season, Manchester City and Real Madrid find themselves in the final phase of the Champions League. Txiki Begiristain, sporting director of the Citizens, was not particularly delighted…
“It’s always the same thing.” Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain was left jaded after the Champions League quarter-final draw. The Citizens, outgoing winners, will face Real Madrid for the third consecutive time in the competition. In 2021 and 2022 the two clubs faced each other in the semi-final (one qualification for the final for each side), this time it is one round earlier that the confrontation will take place.
Begiristain tired but not worried
The sporting director of Manchester City would have liked to discover a new opponent in this phase of the Champions League. “What a hassle again, I’m fed up with these balls, it’s always the same thing,” he told the Spanish media. “The draw is the same as last year, we replace Liverpool with Arsenal… we will try to remember what happened last year and that we managed to reach the final. They are the ones who have the most titles and this consistency of always being in the final phase… We consider ourselves strong, we are having an excellent Champions League, we are on a good run and these are trends.
Confident in his club, Txiki Begiristain does not forget the special link between Real and the Champions League. “This is their competition. Historically they have had poor results in the league and they have excelled in the Champions League. The competition is coming and whatever happens, this year they are at the top of their game in La Liga.”
Manchester City can still glean three titles at the end of the season and this is a goal stated by Txiki Begiristain. “We want all three, we are in the Cup quarter-final against Newcastle, in the Premier League we are only one point behind and we are still doing great things.”