UCL: It’s not smart to underestimate Madrid, Mijatovic warns Man City

Ex-Real Madrid forward Pedja Mijatovic has cautioned Manchester City against underestimating Los Blancos in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

In a recent chat with AS, Mijatovic emphasised that Real Madrid remains the team that every club hopes to avoid facing in the competition.

The 65-year-old recalled a conversation with Manchester City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain three years ago, during which Begiristain emphasised that before any draw, Real Madrid was the team that every club hoped to avoid in the Champions League.

“We have the League on track and in the Champions League, be careful, it is not intelligent to underestimate Madrid,” Mijatovic said.

“Three years ago I had lunch with (City sporting director Txiki) Begiristain in Manchester.

“When talking about the Champions League he told me: ‘Before a draw there is only one team that no one wants to get: Real Madrid.”

Having met in the UCL semi-finals of the past two seasons, Madrid and City will have a face-off this season yet again. The Los Blancos will host the first leg on April 9, and the return leg will be the week after at the Etihad Stadium.