The likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Napoli have fallen by the wayside, leaving a repeat of last season’s semi-final as the first fixture in the last four this time – Real Madrid vs Manchester City. City had things under control last season till they lost the plot at the Bernabeu, as Real clinched a 6-5 win on aggregate to enter the final enroute to winning the trophy.
With City in the semis again, the other big talking point currently is how Pep Guardiola‘s men are up for a potential treble. They currently lead Arsenal by 1 point in the EPL standings and are scheduled to play Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3.
The Champions League semi-finals kick off on May 10 (early morning India time) at the Bernabeu, with Real Madrid hosting Manchester City. The reverse fixture for this clash will be played at the Etihad Stadium on May 18 (12:30 AM IST). Inter Milan and AC Milan meanwhile will lock horns on May 11 and May 17 (12:30 AM IST).
Ahead of the first leg of the first semi-final, TimesofIndia.com spoke to professional football manager and former player Ashley Westwood, who has coached Indian clubs like Bengaluru FC, ATK and Roundglass Punjab about the semi-final line-up this time, the key players the fans should watch out for and more.
This is part 1 of the interview with Ashley.
Manchester City players (AP Photo)
The Champions League semi-final line-up this season – one Spanish club, who are also the holders, one English club and two Italian clubs. Any club which you thought would be in the final 4, but didn’t make the cut?
The way Napoli were playing in the early rounds. Beat Liverpool, they have been in fantastic form in the league, so it surprised me that they didn’t get into the latter stages. Obviously Bayern Munich were a favourite. The only team to win every single group game and win them convincingly. But unfortunately for them they faced Manchester City. I thought that both would make the final four, but obviously with them meeting in the quarter-finals it made that impossible. So I think that Napoli and Bayern Munich have missed for me, (teams) I expected to possibly be there (in the semis), but the way the fixtures come and the way the draw is made, it’s not always the best teams that get to the final stages. Sometimes you have to have a little bit of luck, sometimes you have to avoid a few people. Even Benfica – the way they were playing at one stage – were kind of dark horses, but obviously faltered against Inter Milan. The four teams that are there deserve to be there, deserve to be there on merit. Inter Milan have beaten Benfica, which is no easy feat, across two legs. AC Milan have beaten Napoli. They are an incredibly good attacking side who have scored so many goals. Then obviously Manchester City took care of Bayern Munich which is very tough and Real Madrid took care of Chelsea. It’s an interesting make-up and I don’t think anybody expected two Italian teams to possibly get to the last four. But you can’t call it, they are so tightly matched. Arguably, Manchester City vs Real Madrid would have been an ideal final, but I am pretty sure that Italy are thankful that one of their teams is going to make the final.
Between the two semi-final clashes which one would you say is the real marquee clash? Would you lean towards Real Madrid vs Manchester City, also going by how the two teams are faring this season in their respective leagues, in La Liga and the EPL?
Yes, has to be. Real Madrid are the champions, Manchester City are still on for the treble, which will be incredible. They have done so well to turn the tables on Arsenal, when it was looking like it (the EPL title) was possibly going to be Arsenal’s, just shows you the kind of form they are in. Also Guardiola vs Ancelotti – a repeat of the semi-final last year where Manchester City were in the driver’s seat and threw it away at the Bernabeu, this certainly has to be the marquee clash. With those two managers – like I have mentioned – Guardiola and Ancelotti – one of them is going to get to the final again and hopefully, for me should we say, it’s Manchester City.
Real Madrid players (Reuters Photo)
You mentioned the treble that City are chasing. They are playing Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3. Would you say that this current City team deserves to win the treble? We have heard from someone like Xavi, who has also said that they deserve to win the treble under Pep…
They deserve to win something, but football is not always like that. It can be cruel. They have been so well equipped in the last 3-4 seasons in the Champions League and not quite done it. I even think back to the Tottenham game (2018-19 QF), 2 legs against Tottenham Hotspur where I couldn’t believe they didn’t win that one. It looked like they were going to win it. They have been doing things a bit differently this season. They have found an unbelievable striker in Haaland – 50 goals. They have changed tactically a little bit in games, they have been really fluid in their football, they have been defensively sound. To counter counter-attacking teams, which hasn’t always happened in past seasons, so they have done something different again. It’s not just a repeat of last season. They seem to get stronger and stronger. If you see them playing against Arsenal, who everyone was talking about winning the league – they played them three times and completely played them off the park – it just showed you how good they are and how far they can go with a team like Arsenal being really silenced and it just shows you how strong Manchester City are.
If you had to pick 5 players who you think will really leave their mark on the semis – across both fixtures – who would you pick?
You would have to pick Erling Haaland (Manchester City). Good to see him back on the penalties as well over the weekend, because he took a penalty in the Champions League and missed, but then he took a penalty over the weekend so that is telling me that he could be on the penalties which when we are looking at finer margins in semi-finals there is always a penalty somewhere, because it’s so fiercely contested. Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid) is dangerous. We have seen him in the previous games, the acceleration that he possesses – he could possibly leave his mark on a semi-final. Rafael Leao (AC Milan) is dangerous. He seems to do these driving runs with pace. He is a player that can catch the eye. I really like Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) – he’s been doing very very well. And you can’t forget Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City). Now that is fairly biased you would say to Manchester City, but there are many – Brahim Diaz (AC Milan) is a tricky winger who actually came from Manchester City and is playing for AC Milan (on loan from Real Madrid), who is in good form. Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan is a player who can create moments of brilliance and score goals. There are so many players you know – Modric, Benzema always seem to find a goal in the big games. We really are spoilt for choice. But if I had to pick (just) five, I would go – Haaland, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Leao and Vinicius Jr.
Watch Countdown to UEFA Champions League semi-finals with Ashley Westwood