Rose tells Gladbach to be brave vs City
GERMANY: Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Marco Rose insists his side has nothing to lose against a high-flying Manchester City team on an 18-match winning streak going into Wednesday’s Champions League last 16, first leg tie.
City’s 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday extended their record run in all competitions, while Gladbach are struggling in the Bundesliga after taking a point from their last three games.
Morale is low in the Gladbach camp after last week’s bombshell announcement that Rose will leave at the end of the season to coach rivals Dortmund. However, the focus now is on trying to topple Pep Guardiola’s star-studded City.
“The boys have earned this special evening,” Rose said Tuesday with the home leg moved to Budapest due to Germany’s Covid-19 travel restrictions. “You can only win, first and foremost, in a game like this. It’s a big thing for the club that we’re in (the last 16). The boys should enjoy it.
“We need to trust ourselves and play with a lot of courage and passion. “If there is something that Manchester City don’t like, then it’s not having the ball. We need to play with courage and defend with passion,” Rose added. “The anticipation is huge. We have the chance to compete perhaps the best team in the world right now. It’s just fun,” said the 35-year-old.
‘Atalanta won’t change style for Real Madrid’ BERGAMO, ITALY: Gian Piero Gasperini says Atalanta can’t lose their identity when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 and insists that an injury crisis makes the Spaniards no less dangerous. The two sides meet in Bergamo for the first leg and 13-time European champions Madrid have travelled with only 11 fit senior players. Atalanta, who reached the quarter-finals in their debut campaign in the competition last season, are renowned for a highenergy, attacking style of football and Gasperini is determined not to alter his team’s approach too much.
“We can’t distort our characteristics, which allowed us to reach the Champions League and be competitive in Italy,” the coach told a news conference.
“We won’t distort the team, but we have to be attentive and take some precautions. We want to challenge the absolute best teams and we feel in the right condition to give it our best shot.” Real Madrid are missing several key players for the trip to Italy, with striker Karim Benzema joining the likes of Eden Hazard, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Marcelo on the injury list this week.