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Real Madrid 'desperate' to beat Manchester City in Champions League, says Zinedine Zidane

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has called on his Real Madrid players to remain calm against Wolfsburg
Image: Zinedine Zidane admits he is desperate to beat Manchester City

Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid are "desperate" to beat Manchester City and reach the Champions League final.

Real are 0-0 with City going into their semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and are looking to reach their second final in three seasons.

Cristiano Ronaldo is available after returning from injury and Frenchman Zidane is aware that anything other than a win will be marked as a failure.

Cristiano Ronaldo training, Real Madrid, ahead of Champions League tie with Manchester City
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo is available after returning from injury

"It will be a failure if we do not reach the final. We are going through a good run of form and we will give our all to progress, but it will be very difficult," Zidane said on Tuesday.

"We are desperate to make it to the final, though, and it will be a failure if we do not make it.

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Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane says their Champions League semi-final with Manchester City is a 50-50 tie.

"It will be even more difficult than in the first game because it will all be decided on Wednesday. We are not thinking about scoring two or three goals within 15 minutes like we did against Wolfsburg. We know that we will suffer for 90 minutes - and perhaps even longer.

"The most important thing is that we have to be prepared for a difficult task. Hopefully we can replicate our performance from the second half at the Etihad and then score some goals.

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Sergio Aguero
Image: Sergio Aguero will not be the main focus of Real Madrid's defensive efforts, says Zidane

"We will try to play good football, press high up the pitch and play with an intensity worthy of a semi-final game. It will not be easy just because we have the home advantage."

Zidane insists City are not a one-man team solely reliant on Sergio Aguero and the Spanish giants will not focus all of their defensive attention on the Argentine striker.

"Aguero has all my respect and he is a key player for City, a very good player, but we will not do anything special to stop him," he added.

"The most important thing is what we are going to do on the pitch. Aguero is essential, but so are City's other players."

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