Former Real Madrid Key Player (2013-2022), Casemiro Shares His Thoughts on the Spanish Team Ahead of Their Champions League Playoff Return Leg Against Manchester City
Current Manchester United player Casemiro is back in Spain. Unable to play for the Manchester side due to injury, the 32-year-old made a short trip to Madrid, where he spent nine years between 2013 and 2022. Regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders Real Madrid has had in recent years, the Brazilian still holds fond memories of his time at the club. Speaking to AS, the former São Paulo player shared some great anecdotes with Thomas Roncero. Before getting into that, Casemiro spoke about Wednesday’s clash between his former club and Manchester City.
Casemiro on the highly anticipated clash
A witness to Carlo Ancelotti’s side’s heroics last week, when they secured a 3-2 victory in the first leg of this Champions League playoff at the Etihad Stadium, Casemiro said he was not surprised by the outcome.
“It wasn’t a surprise for me (Real Madrid’s comeback after trailing 2-1 in the 80th minute). Real Madrid almost always does this, and everyone knows the history of this team and what they are capable of. Madrid always steps up until the very end and never gives up. Even when they were losing 2-1, I knew there was still a lot to be decided. And yet, this is Manchester City, with a great manager like Guardiola. But they did it,” said the former Madrid midfielder, who played 335 matches and scored around thirty goals for Los Blancos.
“The second leg? It’s going to be tough”
With the return leg promising to be even more intense given the strength of both teams, Casemiro warns Madrid about the scale of the challenge. Despite having great confidence in his former teammates, the five-time Champions League winner expects a tough match for Real next Wednesday. “Yes, it’s the Bernabéu, but be careful, it’s going to be difficult. City are not at their best, but they are still City. They have Haaland, De Bruyne, and a great goalkeeper like Ederson.”
A Madridista at heart, Casemiro still believes in the magic of the Santiago Bernabéu on Champions League nights. “It won’t be easy, but the Bernabéu, on these Champions League nights, is very special. I wish my former teammates the best of luck, and not just because of my rivalry with City, but above all for Real Madrid. I hope they reach the Round of 16,” he told Diario AS.
Carlo Ancelotti, who will have two key defensive reinforcements for this clash, must carefully prepare his team. Despite the bitter defeat in the first leg, the Skyblues are eager to spoil the party for Los Merengues. As the saying goes, nothing is decided until the final whistle, and against a team like City, the challenge will be tricky and dangerous for Madrid. They must be wary of overconfidence.
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