Michael Brown has shared how he thinks Manchester City players will have reacted to drawing Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Manchester City now know their path to potential Champions League glory for a second year running after Friday’s draw.
Pep Guardiola’s side will meet the competition’s most successful side, Real Madrid, in a mouth-watering quarter-final tie next month.
Should City advance past Los Blancos, then a semi-final with either Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich or Premier League rivals Arsenal will be the final step before a Wembley final.
La Liga front runners Real Madrid were the most daunting team City could have drawn in the competition but Michael Brown doesn’t think the players will be concerned.
The Blues obliterated Madrid in last year’s semi-final and will once again play the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Brown thinks that, and City’s confidence, will be huge factors in the tie.
Michael Brown on Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Speaking to City’s in-house media, Brown said: “It wasn’t just that it was the performance.
“The way the team just went at it with the confidence that they were meant to be at that level.
“I think that’s the difference now with this team.
“They will be all watching the draw now, ready to go out to training and literally they’ll think: ‘Right here we go, that’s who we’ve got. How exciting. We’ve got to go and beat everybody and we’re ready for it.’
“I don’t think now that the team will be fazed.
“I think they’ll say: ‘What a fantastic game, we look forward to that.’
“Second leg’s important, I think that’s the key point for me.
“I would be worried the other way around but it’s different now. City v Real Madrid, I say okay, no problem.”
Fantastic matches await
City will rightly be confident ahead of facing Madrid. They know they can beat the kings of Europe.
Guardiola could not have played last year’s tie any better as he ensured City drew the first leg in the Bernabeu before destroying them on their own patch.
However, both teams are significantly different this time around.
City remain a world-class outfit but they no longer have Ilkay Gundogan, who was so crucial in ensuring Madrid were kept at bay and control of the ball was maintained.
The Blues don’t keep the ball quite as well in the big games right now and they will need to against Madrid.
Likewise, the injured Jack Grealish is far from his best even when he fit this season and he was also pivotal in dictating the tempo.
With Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne not firing on all cylinders, either, City are weaker this year whereas Real Madrid are much stronger.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been transformed by the arrival of Jude Bellingham and have world-class talent in every position.
It’s going to take a big effort for City to get through but two fantastic games await.
