Zidane has said that not reaching the final would represent ‘failure’ for Madrid. Pellegrini, on the other hand, just wants his team to do themselves justice on the big stage, insisting that being underdogs does not matter to them.
‘Our motivation is not linked to that, it’s to try to reach a final that we haven’t done before,’ he said. ‘We play against a great team like Real Madrid in beautiful stadium. That motivates me more than who is the best team and reaches the final. We trust ourselves and hope we can prove it tomorrow.
‘Real Madrid history and Manchester City history is very different. For me it would be a failure not to get to the final if the team didn’t have a performance they could have. If Madrid overwhelm us we will congratulate them. I hope it will be us going through.’
Gareth Bale of Real Madrid CF hurdles the challenge from Jesus Navas of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
‘If he doesn’t play they have other options. We must defend and attack as a team, not just against Cristiano but against Real Madrid.
‘I think he’s a great professional. There was a meeting between him, the manager and doctor, and if they say he can play I’m sure he’s 100 per cent. But I would tell him to stop tomorrow!’
Pellegrini admitted that City will come under huge pressure in one of the biggest matches in the club’s history, but promised not to curb his team’s attacking style.
Real Madrid: Injured Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo watched from the stands last Tuesday but the three-time World Player of the Year and the Portuguese returned to training on Sunday. He has been in blistering form in the Champions League this season, scoring 16 goals in 10 appearances. Karim Benzema came off injured at half time in the first leg and is a mild doubt. Gareth Bale was also ineffective in the first leg but his thunderous header kept an under-strength Real in the chase for the La Liga title with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Real Sociedad on Saturday, their 10th league win in a row.
Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City will not become obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo as they prepare to face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu for a place in the Champions League final.
Mystery surrounds the Portugal star’s fitness after he missed last week’s goalless first leg in Manchester with a hamstring injury despite assurances from Real boss Zinedine Zidane that he would be fit.
Ronaldo has reportedly been receiving stem cell treatment to play in the second leg, with Zidane once again claiming that the former Manchester United player will be able to start.
But Pellegrini, who coached Ronaldo during his first season in Spain, maintains that City will be ready whatever Madrid team they face on Wednesday night.
‘Cristiano will always be a different player,’ said the City boss. ‘He scores a lot of goals in the six years here, but I don’t think that Real Madrid is just Cristiano.
Yaya Toure is fit to face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The Ivory Coast star's participation in the key clash had been under question as he has recently been struggling with a thigh problem.
The midfielder sat out last week's first leg and was not named in the squad for the Barclays Premier Leaguer defeat at Southampton either. Now, however, he looks set to hand City a boost.
Toure trained again on the eve of the Real Madrid trip and looked to be completely free of the niggle.
There are strong hopes that Toure should be fresh enough to make Manuel Pellegrini's bench and perhaps even start against Zinedine Zidane's Galacitcos.
When questioned on the likelihood of Toure's participation at the Bernabeu, Pellegrini remained coy.
'Yaya trained all week and is here, and fit,' was as far as he would stretch in response. Although he did reveal that Pablo Zabaleta would miss out.
The City boss added: 'The only injuries are Silva and Zabaleta – he has a muscle problem from the game at Southampton. The rest are fit.'
- Edited by: FL MEDIA GROUP
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