Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic is confident they can overcome Liverpool.
Real confident of seeing off Liverpool in Champions League
Predrag Mijatovic believes that Real Madrid have to beat teams like Liverpool if they want to achieve their ambition of going a long way in the UEFA Champions League this season.
The nine-times winners of the European Cup were drawn against the English club with five trophies to their name in the first knock-out round on Friday in Switzerland.
Mijatovic insists Madrid had no preferences for the draw and will have to play against all the most difficult teams if they are to make a push to win the cup this term.
"We will go into the tie feeling confident. Up until now we have done well against English teams and I think we are capable of doing well in the competition this season and there is plenty of time to prepare for these games," he told the club's
official website.
"At this level there are no easy teams and if we want to go a long way then the more difficult the opposition the better.
"Nobody reaches this stage of the competition without having great quality. Liverpool have been doing very well in recent seasons, unlike us, but I believe that the time has come to change that."
Mijatovic is pleased that the first leg does not take place until late in February as it gives Madrid time to bring back their injured players and for the new signings next month to settle in.
"We have had a lot of bad luck with injuries in the past few months, but now things will impove and we will be able to have those players back and to add to the squad in January," he added.
"I think the team can play two very good games and go through to the next round. We all want to do well and are excited by playing in the Champions League.
"Our players may lack some experience in this competition, but we should be optimistic."
