Manchester City football director Txiki Begiristain has warned the team that they cannot focus entirely on the Champions League .
The Blues executive was in Nyon on Monday for the draw for the last 16 of the European competition, which saw them pitted against Real Madrid.
And while he admitted that leaders Liverpool are virtually out of sight, 14 points ahead in the Premier League, he said there can be no prioritising, or looking ahead to the first leg in the Bernabeu in February.
For Begiristain, and for his close friend and manager Pep Guardiola , it will be a renewal of old hostilities, from their days at Barcelona – and it could not have been a tougher draw.
But he said no-one will be concentrating on that game.
“We have to keep connected to all competitions – if we do that we have a chance to win some,” he said. “Liverpool may have many, many points in the league, but we have to stay connected.”
And he made the point that City have landed a tough draw, but also a very exciting one – and victory would set them up nicely for the rest of the tournament.
He added: “Of course, they have already won this competition 13 times, so they are the best in the history of this competition.
“We have to try always to beat them. If you want to be the best, you have to try to beat them.
“It’s always a pleasure to go to play against Real Madrid and play in a big stadium. We are happy to go there, of course, and we know what we are going to face.
“We know them very well, but also they know us, what we are doing, and our manager and our team.
“Everybody knows each other, but it’s a good pressure to go there.”
