"You don’t have to go crazy": De Bruyne’s advice for facing Real Madrid

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has called for calm as his team prepares to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday night.

Reflecting on past encounters with the reigning European champions, De Bruyne emphasised the importance of staying measured, saying, "At this level, it’s always about small margins. It’s a two-legged tie, so you don’t have to go crazy." City enter the clash after narrowly defeating Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, where De Bruyne’s late winner proved decisive.

The Belgian star acknowledged his team’s struggles earlier in the season, admitting, "We know why we play these games—because we didn’t do well enough before." De Bruyne has faced Real Madrid in nearly every stage of the Champions League over the past decade and is no stranger to their quality. "The quality is there for both teams," he said, highlighting the need for City to be at their best to overcome the Spanish giants.

Manager Pep Guardiola echoed De Bruyne's sentiments, urging his players to focus on execution rather than emotion as they aim to progress in Europe. With Real Madrid edging City out on penalties in last season’s quarter-finals, this matchup promises another thrilling chapter in their rivalry.

City will rely on home advantage at the Etihad Stadium to take a step closer to securing a spot in the Champions League semi-finals, as they continue their pursuit of European glory.