Real Madrid’s season depends on Champions League success now, and that competition restarts with Ajax visiting the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg ofRound 16.
Defender Nicolas Tagliafico who has enjoyed a phenomenal season in the Eredivisie said they will take Real Madrid head on without any fear.
“I never give up, we’ll be brave and will face Real Madrid man-to-man,” Tagliafico said.
“The situation isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either, I have a lot of belief that we’ll progress because we usually score a lot of goals.”
“Despite their impressive style of play, the Amsterdam club have been accused of lacking experience, but the Argentine has refuted.
“It was more a case of us lacking efficiency,” Tagliafico admitted. “Since I arrived, the two best teams I’ve played against are Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, we lacked the efficiency they showed and if you give Real Madrid a chance, they’ll take it.”
“We paid a high price, but at the same time I feel relaxed, we approach every single match in the same way and I’m sure we’ll do better.
“VAR was used for the first time in the Champions League in the round of 16, and it played a part in Ajax having an opening goal chalked off against the defending champions, and the feelings that created were very unusual for the Argentine international.
“It was a crazy situation to imagine, playing at home and taking the lead, 1-0, that feeling of getting the goal and then it being taken away,” Tagliafico added.
“I suddenly saw the referee listening to VAR and I started praying that they wouldn’t disallow the goal, but these are the things that happen. It is technology and we must respect it, other times it has helped us.”
Real Madrid will be out to appease their fans after two ElClasico defeats at home to rivals Barcelona.
Los Blancos lost 3-0 to Barcelona last Wednesday in Copa del Rey before succumbing to another 1-0 defeat in Laliga.
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