‘What we’ve achieved in recent years is something exceptional’: Bullish Raphael Varane fires a warning to Manchester City as he claims Real Madrid ‘know the traps we have to avoid’ against Pep Guardiola’s men in the Champions League
- Raphael Varane’s insisted Real Madrid know traps Manchester City will try to set
- The two sides clash on Friday in the second leg of their Champions League tie
- Pep Guardiola’s men go into game with one-goal lead after winning 2-1 in Spain
- Varane said Madrid can use experience of previous success to overturn deficit
Raphael Varane has called on Real Madrid to draw on their experience of recent success in the Champions League to inspire them to overturn a deficit against Manchester City.
The LaLiga champions travel to Manchester on Friday for the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash with City, which is delicately poised.
Pep Guardiola’s men pulled off a famous 2-1 victory over Madrid at the Bernabeu in the first leg and Varane says the decisive return tie will be decided by the ‘small details’.
Raphael Varane has insisted Real Madrid ‘know the traps to avoid’ against Manchester City
City host Madrid in the second leg on Friday, having won the first leg 2-1 at the Bernabeu
‘We know what we’ve achieved in recent years is something exceptional,’ the French defender said. ‘What we have to do is carry this experience with us and know that the small details make the difference in big games.
‘Now, we’re a bit more relaxed, but we have the same determination and we know the traps we have to avoid. We have years of experience, but it’s hard to win every game, repeat victories and always be at the top.’
Zinedine Zidane has never lost a knockout round on aggregate in the competition as Madrid boss and has previously led them to three consecutive Champions League titles.
Madrid have already claimed the LaLiga title this season and Varane insisted the team remain hungry for more success.
Real Madrid were crowned LaLiga champions last month after a brilliant domestic campaign
Varane called on team-mates to use their recent success in Champions League to inspire them
He says Pep Guardiola’s men are ‘a very good team’ and game will be decided by ‘small details’
He added: ‘We want to win every day, we’re Real Madrid. We want to win everything possible and gain more confidence that way.
‘We haven’t had games to play beforehand, so we have time to prepare ourselves. The best team on the day will win. We’ll go into [the game] with hunger to win and the necessary determination.
‘[It will be] a difficult game against a very good team. The first leg was a top-quality game, with pressing from both teams.
‘[Real Madrid and City are] two teams that like to have the ball, are very intense and that require lots of concentration.
‘These are the best games in the Champions League – the ones that are decided by very little. They are why we love this competition.’
