Keane: No point travelling to Madrid if City don’t believe

Matt Stead

Roy Keane insists Manchester City’s players need to believe that they can win the second leg of their Champions League semi-final otherwise they shouldn’t even bother travelling to the Bernabeu.

Manuel Pellegrini’s team drew 0-0 with Real Madrid in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium and now face the daunting task of triumphing in the Bernabeu next week.

If City want to avoid a penalty shootout in Madrid then they will have to score and key man Sergio Aguero – who hasn’t managed a shot on target in his side’s last four Champions League matches – will have to improve.

If fit, Real’s front three of Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale are likely to trouble City’s defence and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane thinks Pellegrini’s players need to show belief if they are to have a chance in Madrid.

“Madrid with their history behind them would be favourites,” Keane said. “For City, it was a big occasion. I’m not sure they had the belief.

“When you don’t perform, you’ve got to take something out of the game. That was a clean sheet and they’re still very much in the tie. Of course, Madrid would the favourites.

“You just hope that City will have the belief. There’s been a lot of talk over the last few weeks that they’ve created history by getting to the semi-finals et cetera, et cetera.

“If they don’t have the belief, then there’s no point in travelling next week.”

City face Real Madrid in the second leg next Wednesday after a Premier League trip to Southampton on Sunday.