Karim Benzema looked confident after scoring two goals that helped Real Madrid stay in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City, and the French striker expected his team to qualify for the final match.
Real fell by two goals three times in the first leg of the semi-final at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, but fought to lose by one goal, 4-3 in an exciting match.
“I urge our fans to prepare to see something magical,” Benzema told Movistar Plus. “We will win the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Losing is not good at all and we are very interested in winning the Champions League this season. The important thing is that we never lowered our level of caution and kept fighting until the end.”
Benzema managed to finish an attack neatly in the net and showed the extent of his nerve when the Spanish team won a penalty in the last minutes of the match.
The striker, who missed two penalties against Osasuna last week, scored the kick in the middle of City’s goal.
“I am a very confident man,” Benzema said with a smile. “This is the highest level (of the competition) and we were playing against a great team and at home. We fell 2-0 but we were mentally strong to get back in.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti never doubted his captain’s ability to score, but he criticized the mistakes made by his team.
“We have to defend better,” Ancelotti said.
“It was not a good result because they scored four goals against us, which is not a good thing at all.
“It means we didn’t defend well and we need to do a better job in the second leg. I think that will be the key to victory.”
The Italian coach also feels that the advantage of playing at home will be decisive in the second leg.
“We are very confident and excited because we believe in the magical atmosphere of the Bernabeu,” he added.
Real Madrid’s confidence increased after reaching the semi-finals by defeating Paris St Germain and defending champions Chelsea, and Ancelotti said he was proud of how his team managed to create chances and score against City at home.