Real Madrid will welcome PSG's Angel Di Maria in UCL clash, says Butragueno - 7M sport

Real Madrid will welcome PSG's Angel Di Maria in UCL clash, says Butragueno



Posted Friday, August 28, 2015 by ESPN

Former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria is set for a friendly welcome when he returns to the Bernabeu with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Di Maria's current and former sides were drawn together at Thursday's ceremony in Monaco, into a Group A which also includes Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo.

The big talking point afterwards among Madrid fans and pundits was the prospect of ex-Blancos winger Di Maria returning to the Bernabeu, just over a year after his acrimonious departure for Manchester United.

The Argentine had been whistled by his own team's fans during the opening months of the 2013-14 season, then played a key role in the La Liga giants Decima Champions League win, and was then surprisingly sold by club president Florentino Perez to United for a fee of €75 million.

Di Maria's €63 million move to PSG this summer means he will be back at the Bernabeu in the coming months, but Los Blancos' director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno said he did not see any likely problems.

"[Di Maria] helped us a lot, and we have great affection for him," the former Real Madrid striker said from the draw ceremony in Monaco.

Asked for Madrid's objective in the group, Butragueno said the aim for last year's semifinalists would be to finish top to assure they were seeded in the draw for the last 16 of the competition.

"It must be to finish first in the group, because we know that the knockout draws can be very dangerous," he said. "We will look at the calendar and prepare well. In the Champions League, not just a bad night can hurt you, but a bad 15 minutes."

Real Madrid will welcome PSG's Angel Di Maria in UCL clash, says Butragueno
Angel Di Maria will face his former team Real Madrid when his PSG side visits in the Champions League.

On balance, the draw was a favourable one, Butragueno suggested, while pointing out that he expected PSG to be the main challengers for top spot.

"You could say, like after ever draw, that it could have come out better and also we could have had worse luck," he said. "We all say that our group is difficult, but it is the truth. PSG have improved a lot in recent years, they have a squad full of international big names and always sign well. They do not just have a good XI, but a good squad. It will be very difficult."

PSG manager Laurent Blanc accepted the tough task against Real Madrid, but said the draw could have been much worse, while Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set for a return to Malmo, where he started his career.

"Given the rules of the draw, we knew we would be up against a big club and in the end we have been drawn against Real Madrid," Blanc said. "There were dangerous teams in the third and fourth pots, so it could have been even more difficult.

"We will play Malmo, where Zlatan began his career, so obviously that will become a big event.

""The draw isn't easy, but given the other sides in the draw, it's a logical draw. We are the top seeds in Group A, Real Madrid are the second seeds, so we are the two favourites in the group, but Shakhtar and Malmö are very serious challengers."

PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi added: "It's a tough group, because we'll be taking on one of Europe's biggest clubs and another very good side. They make for exciting matches, that's for sure. And then Ibra will be returning to his home town, so that will also be a great match.

"We all know our aim: qualify for the last-16 by always giving 100 percent. Real Madrid are always one of the favourites for the competition, we know their strengths and their world-class stars.

"Our ambition is to finish top of the group; that would be perfect. If you want to win the Champions League, you have to play these types of matches."

Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu said it was a "decent draw" for his side.

"Of course, there are more evenly matched groups. There are also stronger ones," Lucescu said. "It is good that we will again bring three Champions League clubs to Ukraine. None of them have played with us before.

Shakhtar will play continue to play games in Lviv, 1,200 kilometres from the home stadium, which is closed because of the ongoing conflict.

"The conditions will be not equal again," Lucescu said. "We remain a team without our home stadium, without our fans. Let's hope that our supporters in Lviv will root for us and understand that we represent the whole of Ukraine."

Butragueno said the timing of Madrid's away trips to Shakhtar and Malmo could play a role in how the group played out.

"Shakhtar are a team with talent, and have been playing the Champions League for a long time. We have to take into account when we will be playing away from home.

"And Malmo have knocked out Celtic, so they must be good competitors. When we go away to play them will have a big influence."



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