Brazilian winger Savinho emphasizes Real Madrid’s explosive ability to turn matches around in just a few minutes, as they prepare for the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.
“I always watched the Man City vs. Real match on television when I was playing for Atletico Mineiro, and now I’m living this moment myself,” Savinho shared with Man City’s internal media ahead of the Champions League playoff. “There weren’t many options in the draw; we had to face either Bayern or Real. Both clubs are fantastic, and we ended up with Real.”
Savinho celebrates a goal during the match where Man City defeated West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League. Photo: Reuters
Under coach Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid has pulled off incredible comebacks during their 2021-2022 Champions League winning campaign. They consistently overturned deficits against PSG in the Round of 16, Chelsea in the quarter-finals, Man City in the semi-finals, and finally defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final.
In the semi-finals of the 2023-2024 Champions League, Real drew 2-2 with Bayern in the first leg and trailed 0-1 in the return leg at the Bernabeu. However, in the last five minutes, substitute forward Joselu scored twice, leading Real to a comeback victory. In the final, they also triumphed over Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley.
“I’ve spoken with Bernardo Silva and some Real players while on national duty. They mentioned that Real has a special power; even if they’re down 0-2 or 0-3 and the match isn’t over, they can still achieve remarkable comebacks like in recent Champions League seasons,” Savinho added.
Savinho emerged from Atletico Mineiro, playing for the first team from 2020 to 2022. After transferring to Troyes, he went on loan to PSV and Girona.
While at Girona, Savinho made a significant impact by scoring 11 goals in 41 matches across all competitions. He faced Real twice in La Liga during the 2023-2024 season but lost both encounters. In the summer of 2024, he joined Man City for a fee of $38 million.
Savinho competes with Federico Valverde during the match between Girona and Real Madrid in La Liga. Photo: Teamtalk
Savinho remarked, “We need to stay focused and capitalize on opportunities; that’s crucial. I learned that at Girona. We played well but didn’t take our chances. When Real gets an opportunity, they seize it to dictate the game.”
He also expressed regret that Man City and Real are facing each other so early in the playoffs. “We should have qualified for the Round of 16 more convincingly instead of meeting Real in the playoffs. I respect other clubs, but Real should not be in the playoffs,” the 20-year-old stated.
Man City has been inconsistent at the start of the season, suffering nine losses in 12 matches before Christmas. However, under Pep Guardiola, they have shown signs of improvement, losing only two of their last 11 matches, including a comeback win against Leyton Orient (2-1) in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend.
“This season has been challenging, especially compared to our previous successes,” Savinho acknowledged. “This is a team that has won the Premier League four times in a row. But in football, it’s not always sunshine and roses. We need to stay focused and improve.”