2nd May, 2016
Kelechi Iheanacho says it will be a dream to play for Manchester City in the Bernabeu and hopes to take his hot Premier League scoring form into the Champions League showdown.
The 19-year-old striker staked his claim for a starting place against Real Madrid on Wednesday night with two goals in City’s 4-2 loss at Southampton on Sunday.
And with David Silva on the sidelines, Manuel Pellegrini will need Iheanacho – who now has 13 goals this season – to be firing with the tie delicately poised at 0-0 after the first leg.
Iheanacho said: “It is a dream come true for me and I am happy if I go there. I hope we do well there and there is a great atmosphere. I haven’t been before, but I am happy to go there to get a win.
“If I play, I need to work hard for the team and help them qualify for the final if we get the goals.
“I am in with a shot of being involved in Madrid, so I will keep working hard. Nothing is enough in football. I will keep working hard to convince the team that I need to be here.
“It doesn’t matter where you find yourself, you have to focus and concentrate and work for the team. When the ball falls to you, you have to put it in.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for us but we will keep our heads down and keep working hard to get there.”
With Real’s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo recovering from a thigh injury in time for the second leg, City will need to take their chances in Madrid.
But a side showing eight changes from the first leg were well beaten at Southampton on a disappointing afternoon though at least Iheanacho was on the scoresheet.
“This game is not good preparation for us,” admitted the Nigeria international. “But we will keep it behind us, focus and train, and go to the Bernabeu and hope we qualify.
“Unfortunately for me, we lost today so the goals didn’t mean anything but I will keep working hard to get some more.”
MailOnline