Real ready to defend title
Madrid, Sept. 12: Such is Real Madrid’s confidence in creating more Champions League history that while others have spent hundreds of millions trying to catch up, the back-toback champions were happy to cash in.
Real made a profit of over 75 million euros ($90 million) in the transfer market thanks to the departures of Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez and Danilo.
Yet they remain very much the side to beat as the Champions League returns on Tuesday having ended a near three-decade long wait for a team to retain the trophy.
“We are the champions so everyone faces us with extra motivation,” warned former Real striker Emilio Butragueno, now the club’s director of institutional relations.
Madrid coped with that challenge admirably last season, dismissing Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus in the latter stages.
Their quest to become the first side since Bayern in the mid-seventies to win three in a row starts with a more modest test in the form of APOEL Nicosia at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Tougher tasks lie in wait in the form of Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur in Group H.
Dortmund even beat Madrid to top spot in the group stage last season. But Real have mastered the art of saving their best for when the competition really gets going for the contenders in the knockout stages in the new year.
“We have a stupendous squad but this is a competition that takes you to the limit in all aspects,” added Butragueno.
“You can have a big squad with all the resources, but when the moment of truth arrives you need to not have injuries, for your players to be in optimum form and have luck. There are so many factors.”
Klopp’s progress under scrutiny
Meanwhile, When Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool in October 2015, he made a promise: “If we sit here in four years, I think we (will) win one title,” he said.
Next month will mark the second anniversary of Klopp’s appointment, the halfway point of cycle.
Spurs aim to end Wembley woes
Frustrated by a series of miserable experiences at Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur host Borussia Dortmund in London desperate to finally vanquish the ghosts that haunt them at the national stadium. The north London club have been forced to relocate to Wembley while White Hart Lane is being rebuilt.
City ready for Feyenoord
Pep Guardiola’s rampant Manchester City will be keen to keep the momentum going as they open the hunt for League glory against Feyenoord. —