Perez pleased with draw
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of his side’s Champions League quarter-final meeting with Manchester United.
“It’s what the players wanted and I think it’s very good – a perfect draw,” said Perez, whose side appear in a TV advertisement for Pepsi Cola alongside the same United players who now stand in the way of a 10th Champions League title for the Madrid side.
“A duel with Manchester United has all of the attraction of a big Champions League game,” he added.
Meanwhile, Madrid coach Vicente Del Bosque admitted he was worried about facing United’s attacking might.
Del Bosque said: “Their history, their present and their future mean Manchester United will present great difficulty. They will organise the final, they are a very stable side and their players have real quality.
“We are two traditional European sides and we are going to give a great show.”
Brazil star Roberto Carlos was also pleased at the prospect of facing United and believes their open style of play will allow Real to exploit the abilities of Zinedine Zidane, Raul, Luis Figo and Ronaldo.
He said: “English football is easier for us to play against – Barcelona or Valencia would have been more difficult.
“This is the game we wanted and we are two sides who want to get to the final, but it gives us the chance to knock out an important rival as we go for our 10th Champions League.”
