“The only thing is…” – Txiki Begiristain reacts to Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final draw

Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain has offered his thoughts on the club’s fate in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw.

UEFA’s procedure in Nyon on Friday morning confirmed that the reigning Champions of Europe’s defence of their crown would next present them with the challenge of Real Madrid across two legs in April.

Manchester City will face the La Liga side in an action-packed schedule that will also see them continue their pursuit of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title next month.

Following the order of the draw of teams in Friday’s draw, Manchester City will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu for the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie, before the decisive leg of the contest will be played out at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking after the completed draw, Manchester City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain – who was in attendance at the procedure – has offered his thoughts on the upcoming contest in European competition.

“Now it’s Real Madrid but we have to remember we beat them last season in the semi-finals so we will try to remember that. We need to remember that we beat them last season in the semi-final and we played at home in the second leg.

“We did a top, top job in the second leg but we need to remember how strong they are and that they are top of their league and enjoy this competition. It’s the history of Real Madrid. Every time they face this competition, they think they are going to win.

“The only thing is that we are confident. We are doing well, we have been in the last years fighting for this competition and at the end we won it.”

Champions League Quarter-Final Draw

Arsenal vs FC Bayern Munich

Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona

Champions League Semi-Final Draw

Arsenal or FC Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid or Manchester City

Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona

Manchester City’s congested fixture schedule continues this weekend as they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup quarter-final stage, with a place at Wembley Stadium up for grabs in the next round.