Real Madrid v Manchester City,
Champions League Group D
- Venue: Bernabeu
- Date: Tuesday, 18 September
- Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage:
Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, text commentary on BBC Sport website
Real
Madrid boss Jose Mourinho believes Manchester City will win the Champions
League "sooner or later".
And
speaking before Tuesday's meeting in Madrid, City boss Roberto Mancini agreed
that they will win the trophy at some point in the future.
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“If
you drive a Ferrari you can win, if you drive a Fiat Cinquecento, probably not”
Roberto
Mancini Manchester City boss
Mourinho
said: "With the direction the club is going, sooner or later they will win
the big cup."
Mancini
added: "I am sure we will arrive to win this trophy in the future."
Former
Chelsea manager Mourinho compared the investment made at City to that at
Stamford Bridge under owner Roman Abramovich.
Mourinho
delivered two Premier League titles at Chelsea but was unable to add the
Champions League - which he has won with Porto and Inter Milan - to the club's
trophy cabinet.
Chelsea
eventually won the trophy last season under Roberto Di Matteo and Mourinho is
confident that City too will conquer Europe.
He
said: "I don't think it is very different to Chelsea.
"Since
Roman bought the club, (Claudio) Ranieri was the first coach, then I came and
we won the first league, some cups and some more titles.
"Carlo
(Ancelotti) then came and they continued to win and finally they won the
Champions League.
"With
City it started off with Mark Hughes, they started spending money and buying
good players.
"Then
Roberto (Mancini) came and he has done a very good job. He has created a great
squad, the first cup then the first title arrived.
"I
don't know if it is this season or next season - with Roberto Mancini or with
another person. It will happen sooner or later."
Mancini has set no targets for
this year's campaign but admitted that City should be concentrating on winning
in Europe in the future.
He said: "If you drive a
Ferrari you can win, if you drive a Fiat Cinquecento, probably not.
"In the past we have been
working for this. I think we beat good teams but we have played together for
two years and we needed time.
"I am sure we will arrive
to win this trophy in the future. I do not know when, but I am sure because we
are working for this.
"If we want to improve
every year it is possible."
Mourinho questioned his side's
spirit after they fell eight points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona at the
weekend but he says he will not make wholesale changes for the visit of
Mancini's men.
He said: "The line-up will
not be very different, it will be the best that I consider to play, full of
players of the highest level.
"Football is about today
and tomorrow, not yesterday. Yesterday is history.
"I haven't been able to
keep my players motivated and concentrated at the top level and that is my
fault.
"To play against City
motivates me as much as playing against Getafe. To win the Champions League
motivates me like any other match."
