Steve McManaman claims Jude Bellingham will be treated like the King of Madrid
Former England international Steve McManaman played for both clubs and knows how that feels having switched to La Liga from Liverpool in his prime.
Everybodys looking at this semi-final because of the draw. Whoever wins out of these two will be strong vourites for the final wont they?
And although he rates City vourites to emerge as finalists after his two former sides start their semi-final tie this week, he feels the Spanish side will always have an attraction ahead of the English elite.
I think I think he made Bayern Munich better even though he never won the treble like the previous managers. I still think they were a better team to watch and I still think they played better football. And I believe that now what he has done at Manchester City is exactly the same.
Jude Bellingham will be treated like the King of Madrid IF he signs for the Spanish side ahead of their Champions League rivals.
The final scinating storyline to the tie is Pep Guardiola, a legend of Madrids rivals Barcelona, returning to the Bernabeu trying to win the only trophy that has eluded him since he moved to England.
Premier League leaders City go to the Bernabeu and Carlo Ancelottis reigning champions, aiming to avenge last years exit there and take another step towards an amazing treble-winning season.
It will be this new phase of Madrid with the youngsters then taking over. And theyll be on the look out for more players.
Nothing is going to happen until the summer – if at all – but if Jude does happen to sign for Madrid he will be treated like a king, McManaman explained.
McManaman does recognise how a victory would at least end the debate about Guardiolas abilities and concluded: Its like Frankie Dettori winning the Derby. Ive done that now. Tony McCoy winning the Grand National. Ive done that now. So it just stops people mentioning it again. Thats all it is. But for me, I think its nonsense, to be very honest.
Youd have City as vourites for many reasons, but last year I thought it would be a bridge too r for Madrid when they played City, but they somehow got the job done.
They thought they were going to get Kylian Mbappe and they bid for Mbappe last summer. I think with the added stardust of playing for playing for Real Madrid with the history they have in the city that they are. And everything that goes along with this.
The ct that Atletico Madrid have taken over them in La Liga doesnt really mean that much to them. As long as they win in Europe.
I think theres something starry-eyed about Madrid. They are trying to accumulate younger players as they have been over the last few years. Theyve certainly got the finances.
The only problem for City, McManaman believes is that Madrid players and supporters always feel like vourites having won the competition a record 14 times
McManaman, however, insists the Catalan coach does not need the silverware to prove his greatness to anyone in Spain or the rest of the world.
He added: I think its more in our country, isnt it? In our country we view it as Oh my God, he needs to win! Oh, he hasnt done it since Messi, blah, blah, blah. I dont personally see it like that. I think hes a wonderful manager.
Its in their DNA, he smiles. This is the competition they pinpoint at the beginning of the season. They count the Champions League as more important than the league.
