STER CRAZY Raheem won’t be Karim of the crop
RAPHAEL VARANE knows Raheem Sterling will be a major threat for Real Madrid when they visit Manchester City in the Champions League on Friday.
But the centre-back is adamant the game’s key man will be fellow Frenchman Karim Benzema, not Sterling, and that Pep Guardiola’s defenders will be worrying all week at the prospect of facing him.
City lead the last-16 tie 2-1 but the job is far from done against a side spearheaded by sharp-shooting Benzema.
Varane ( i nset) s ai a i d: “Sterling is a dangerous rous footballer.
“We need to stop his performance and that was not easy in the last game. But Benzema will be decisive in Manchester.
“In the last phase se of La Liga Karim was enormous and now against i t Cit City he is key for us.
“I see him each day and the way he prepares for matches.
“He is our leader in attack and this influences our rivals.
“The City defenders will not be calm for the match.”
Real sat second behind Barcelona when they last met City but come into this clash full of confidence after overtaking them to become Spanish champions for the 34th time.
Varane, 27, said:
“This title was very emotional for us. Coronavirus has changed football and we have all lived a unique experience on the pitch.
“But we overcame problems and are champions which is very important for us in our preparations for the final against City.
That’s how we see this game – as a final.
“The squad were hurt by the defeat in the Bernabeu but this match is very open.
“I’m convinced it will be a match with goals but our challenge is not to conced concede.
“We are mentally ready for and we will arrive in the be best moment for Real M Madrid.
“City will have the advantage but I am expecting a big match a and the squad with the m most patience and fortu fortune in front of goal will go throu through to the final phases. “We’ve gathered a lot of force and momentum in this time but we know it will be a complicated match. “It will be sensational to knock City out of the competition.” Varane is under no illusions about the size of the task awaiting them but is convinced boss Zinedine Zidane will have them prepared for everything Guardiola’s men throw at them.
He added: “Zidane is unique – a big psychologist. “He is a magic coach and I’ll always be grateful to Zidane for the chances that he has given me in this club.”