Mijatovic: We Are Confident We Can Beat Liverpool

Real Madrid's spotring director believes that if Real Madrid are to try and win the Champions League for the tenth time then they must be prepared and optimistic about beating any team.

Predrag Mijatovic believes that Real Madrid have to beat team like Liverpool if they want to achieve their ambition of going a long way in the Champions League this season

The Spanish nine-times winners of the European Cup were drawn against the English club with five trophies to their names in the first knockout round on Friday in Switzerland.

Madrid had no preferences and will have to play against all the most difficult teams if they are to make a push to win the cup this term, according to Mijatovic.

"We will go into the tie feeling confident. Up until now we have done well against English team and I think we are capable of doing well in the competition this season and there is plenty of time to prepare for these games," he told the club's official website.

"At this level there are no easy teams and if we want to go a long way then the more difficult the opposition the better."

"Nobody reaches this stage of the competition without having great quality. Liverpool have been doing very well in recent seasons, unlike us, but I believe that the time has come to change that."

Mijatovic is pleased that the first leg does not take place until late in February as it gives Madrid time to bring back their injured players and for the new signings next month to settle in.

"We have had a lot of bad luck with injuries in the past few months, but now things will improve and we will be able to have those players back and to add to the squad in January," he added.

"I think the team can play two very good games and go through to the next round. We all want to do well and are excited by playing in the Champions League."

"Our players may lack some experience in this competition, but we should be optimistic."