Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are refusing to count their chickens before they hatch following Monday’s Champions League last-16 draw.
The draw paired Madrid with Roma, Barca – the reigning champions – with Arsenal and Atleti with PSV, and none of Spain’s finest were in the mood to assume their place in the quarter-finals, despite the trio being quickly tipped as favourites.
Madrid’s head of PR Emilio Butragueno told BeIN Sports: “We must be very alert.
“Hopefully we hit good form and our best players are at the top of their game.
“We know what it’s like to handle 10 bad minutes on a European night with maximum tension. There’s confidence in our players.
“We face a team who compete very well. If we think we’re the favourites, things will go wrong.”
Meanwhile, Barca technical secretary Robert Fernandez reflected: “[Arsenal’s] an attractive game, an open tie and we’ll have fun, for sure.
“Arsenal are a good team with some great players. The two matches will be difficult, they’re opponents to be reckoned with," said the technical secretary.
“Arsenal’s philosophy is very similar to our own. It will be vital to get a good result in the first leg. They’re very tough opponents.
“Paris Saint-Germain are opponents who we didn’t want to get soon [after facing them in the group stage].
Finally, Atleti general manager Clemente Villaverde noted of PSV: “They’re a strong team, with a lot of history in Europe, and I’m sure they’ll make life difficult for us.
“Still, we’re happy to be here for the third year in a row.”
