"It's going to be a special game for Ronaldo"

Real Madrid director, Emilio Butragueno, has claimed that playing Manchester United in the next round of the European Cup will be a special occasion for Cristiano Ronaldo.

“It’s going to be a special game for him,” he said. “He’s a great professional and he will do his best for Real Madrid. So yes, going back there, it will be very special for him. From the players’ perspective, they will think ‘I want to show what I’m made of’. It is going to be important for us to get our injured players back and I hope we will be at our best for the first leg. In football, you never know.”

Butragueno has also reflected on the quality of the draw, with two of the biggest clubs in the world battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I think the fans will be very very happy with the tie, it’s very attractive. It’s going to be a thrilling experience for everybody,” he continued. “Manchester United are a great team and a great organisation, one of the most prestigious in the world. So we are very happy. We have a very good relationship with them. We know it is going to be difficult, a very even tie. They are a very strong team with great leadership – Sir Alex Ferguson has been there for 25 years. He’s a fantastic manager and he knows how to make the most out of his players. So we know it’s going to be very, very difficult. But we are Real Madrid – we will do our best and rise to the occasion.”