Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain has joked that he’s ‘bored of the same balls’ after drawing Real Madrid for the third year in a row in the Champions League.
Real Madrid defeated Pep Guardiola’s side 6-5 on aggregate on their way to winning the competition in 2022, while City got their revenge a year later winning 5-1 before clinching the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
This year, the sides will play each other a round earlier than they have in the last two, with the winner going on to face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
When asked about the draw, he told Movistar as per Marca: ‘What a shame again, bored with these balls, always the same.’
Man City sporting director Txiki Begiristain joked that he’s ‘bored of the same balls’ being used in the Champions League after drawing Real Madrid for the third year in succession
Guardiola’s side will face Real Madrid, with the winners playing either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals
City beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate last year, after the Spanish giants got the better of the Premier League side a year prior
He added: ‘The draw is the same as last year, change Liverpool for Arsenal.
‘We will try to remember what happened last year and that we managed to reach the final.
‘They are the ones with the most titles and that consistency of always being in the last phase.
‘We consider ourselves strong, we are having a great Champions League, we have a good streak and these are trends.’
Manchester City’s victory over Real Madrid last year concluded a historic treble, after clinching the Premier League and FA Cup.
They are currently in contention to match that feat this term, sitting just one point behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, and in the semi-finals of the FA Cup after their 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.
Real Madrid appear to be a stronger threat than last year, as they lead the LaLiga standings by eight points after finishing 10 behind rivals Barcelona in 2022-23.
Asked to give an analysis of Real Madrid, Begiristain said: ‘It’s their competition. Historically they have done badly in LaLiga and the Champions League have done well.
Begiristain was present at the Champions League draw which was held in Switzerland
Real Madrid and Manchester City are two of the favourites to win the trophy on June 1
‘The competition arrives and it doesn’t matter what happens, on top of that this year they are best in the league.
‘But it doesn’t matter, they enjoy it and when they face it, they believe they are going to win it.’
City travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first-leg on April 9, with the Spanish giants returning to the Etihad eight days later.
