Manchester City vs Real Madrid - Kompany appeals to City fans to bring noise against Real - 7M sport

Manchester City vs Real Madrid - Kompany appeals to City fans to bring noise against Real



Posted Tuesday, April 26, 2016 by PA

Vincent Kompany has called on Manchester City's fans to roar the team to victory against Real Madrid.

The City captain believes supporters have a key role to play as the sides clash in the first leg of their eagely-anticipated Champions League semi-final at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

City fans have been slow to embrace Europe's flagship club competition over the past five years but passions now seem to have been fired and this clash quickly sold out.

Asked at the pre-match press conference how big a factor the fans could be, Kompany said: "The biggest. We play against one of the greatest clubs of all time and our support will be able to make the difference.

"I have never seen a Man City team not turn up when the fans are up for it. It is actually an appeal to them that they have to be as loud as they have ever been, otherwise what is the point of buying a ticket to come in? That is what we need from them."

Kompany, now fit and set to start after a recent calf injury, also expects the occasion to inspire his team-mates.

The 30-year-old said: "When you get to the semi-final, there is nothing bad for you anymore, you just want to play. The whole team has been positive. It has even lifted us in the Premier League. It has given our season something so important to look forward to.

"For every single player in the team, if you are not hungry tomorrow, you will never be hungry in football."

Cristiano Ronaldo looks likely to feature for Madrid after a fitness scare.

The former Manchester United star missed his side's victory over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend with a thigh injury.

But the Portuguese is winning the battle to prove his fitness for the first leg of the last-four clash while fellow forward Karim Benzema also seems likely to overcome doubts over his condtition.

Coach Zinedine Zidane said at his pre-match press conference at the Etihad Stadium: "The idea is we want them to play but we have got the last training session now.

"We will see but they are fine at the moment and I think they will be fine. We will test everything. The idea is they will play. I think they will be 100 per cent."

Ronaldo suffered his injury against Villarreal last week while Benzema sustained knee trouble in the first half of Saturday's 3-2 Primera Division win at city rivals Rayo.

The likely availability of the pair means Real would be able to field their formidable front trio of Ronaldo, Benzema and Gareth Bale, who have scored 72 goals between them in the league this season.

But Zidane is also wary of the attacking threat City possess, with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva at their disposal.

Real needed to recover from a 2-0 deficit after the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Wolfsburg and Zidane does not want to go through that again.

The French World Cup-winner said: "City are a great side. If you leave them space they can hurt you. The players get between the lines and cause problems. We need to try and stop that happening.

"Over in Wolfsburg we found it difficult. When they scored we suffered a little bit. We don't want that to happen again.

"We need to be try to be strong defensively because we know we'll be put under pressure. But if we are organised I think we will get chance to unleash our weapons in attack.

"But you can prepare all you want for a big game and then it can turn out totally different to how you envisaged it. The important thing is to give 150 per cent."



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