Real Madrid out to destroy Manchester United's dreams
No club has won the European crown on its home ground since Inter Milan lifted the old European Cup at the San Siro in 1965 and Real Madrid are out to ensure that streak continues.
No club has won the European crown on its home ground since Inter Milan lifted the old European Cup at the San Siro in 1965 and Real Madrid are out to ensure that streak continues.
The reigning European champions entertain Manchester United in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, an encounter many pundits wish had been saved for the final at United's Old Trafford on May 28, with the explicit aim of relegating The Reds to spectator status next month.
"The Champions League is the most important treasure that a coach can have," said Real Madrid coach Vicente Del Bosque, suggesting that he desperately wants a third trophy to go alongside the ones he won in 2000 and last season.
His opposite number Sir Alex Ferguson has been playing his usual mindgames over the weekend, suggesting that UEFA have a hidden agenda to stop United from making the final and that Real's Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos shouldn't be playing on Tuesday after he shoved a referee in a recent international match.
However, despite all the bluster blowing from the north, Del Bosque has kept his usual placid demeanour.
"Nothing will come as a surprise to us. Manchester have played the same way for some time now," commented Del Bosque.
Nevertheless, Del Bosque still has heaps of respect for United, remembering that they held Real to a 0-0 draw in the Bernabeu at the same stage of the competition three years ago, before Real pulled off a remarkable 3-2 win at Old Trafford.
"They have valuable players in every position be it in defence or attack. They have great individual players with Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand and are a very stable team," commented the Real coach.
To counter the threat posed by United stars, Del Bosque expects to have a few of his own back in action.
The French pair of Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele will return to Spanish league leaders' midfield after missing Saturday's 3-1 victory over bottom club Rayo Vallecano due to minor injuries recieved while on international duty last week.
Spanish international Ivan Helguera also missed Saturday's game but is expected to partner club captain Fernando Hierro in the centre of the defence, an area that worries Del Bosque as the one weak spot in his armoury.
Curiously, Ferguson seemed over the weekend, despite his side's impressive 4-0 win over Liverpool, to be more concerned about Real's past rather than the present.
"It's the history of Real Madrid that concerns me more than the actual team. Nine European victories is amazing. They make it their most important target every year and are often willing to sacrifice the Spanish League to win it," Ferguson told a British newspaper on Sunday.
"We can never do that. United are entrenched in the tribal warfare that surrounds our country and that means we have always got to be beating Arsenal or Liverpool or Manchester City.
"Real don't worry about budgets. Figo, Raul, Zidane, Ronaldo - they can all win a game on their own. It has cost them 300 million pounds to do it, but they (Real Madrid) have bought the biggest names in the world," added the Scottish coach.
Ferguson's comments smack of envy but he insisted that United feared no one, especially as they are now level on points with Premiership leaders Arsenal.
"The empire is supposed to be crumbling, but I think the games we have got coming up will tell me everything I need to know about this team. Is the Double on? I think we can beat anyone."
The man Ferguson is looking to provide the goals if United are to beat Real is Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutch striker heads the Champions League goalscorers' list this season with 10 strikes and has also found the net 17 times in the Premiership, including two against Liverpool.
"We've got to be the favourites for the Champions League. I've got the feeling that there isn't going to be a Spanish flag on the trophy this year.
"The team is determined to get to the fianl at Old Trafford but we are all aware that the road to get there isn't going to be easy," van Nistelrooy said last week.
Ferguson's only two minor worries, apart from paranoia that the draw had been rigged - suggestions that UEFA dismissed on Sunday as "silly" - concern David Beckham's cold, which kept him on the bench for much of Saturday's game, and a knock that van Nistelrooy suffered late in the game.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Diego Forlan will be pressed into service if either of United's two superstars is unable to start.