09 May 2023 , 18:57
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Rio Ferdinand has warned Erling Haaland and Manchester City not be "desperate" in their Champions League semi-final first-leg trip to Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola's side face Los Blancos at Santiago Bernabau - a year after they were knocked out of the same opposition in the last four. However, City have a slight advantage this time around, based on the fact they travel to Madrid in the opening game, before hosting Carlo Ancelotti's men on May 17.
When assessing the game for BT Sport, Ferdinand admitted that City must stay patient and not panic against a Real side that are masters in the Champions League. Los Blancos won the competition last year by beating Liverpool in the final and will fancy their chances in 2023.
When asked about Haaland, Ferdinand said: "In a situation like this, you’ve just got to stay away from desperation. I’ve played in the Champions League Final and we hadn’t won it in my time there, and I felt desperate at times.
"But, I was playing against a team that were probably in the same position - or I know they were - in Chelsea, who hadn’t won it. There is a level of desperation on both sides. I wondered whether if we’d played against a team like Real Madrid in that final, if we'd have been calm and cool, know the role in terms of how to win a competition, how that might have impacted me as well.
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"I think they’ve just got to stay away from that desperation if they get to that point, and just be composed. He hasn’t shown desperation at any stage so far, which is great, but I think that is one area that the Real Madrid players may be looking at when they’re looking at this City team."
Erling Haaland has scored 51 goals this season (Getty Images)Haaland has scored 51 goals for City so far this season, including 12 in the Champions League. There has been plenty of talk surrounding whether the Norwegian was brought in to win the competition, but Owen doesn't believe any pressure with effect him and his performance.
Owen said: "Especially with him, because if he reads the papers, listens to people and what they say, everybody says ‘he’s been brought in to win the Champions League.’ It’s almost on his shoulders in many ways, if he believes what he hears and reads.
"I think he’s got a solid mentality, he’s got that little bit of confidence and arrogance, but I don’t think it will faze him. He’s got utmost belief in himself. I don’t think all this talk of ‘it’s all down to him to be that missing piece of the jigsaw,’ will affect him."