James Rodriguez was a member of the Real Madrid side that eliminated Bayern Munich in last season’s Champions League quarter-finals. The Columbian has since switched sides and insists Bayern will not have revenge on their minds when the clubs oppose each other in this season’s semi-finals.
In an interview with TZ newspaper, James said: “We shouldn’t see the two games against Madrid as revenge or rematches from last year.
“What we must do is look at them as simply being two more games on the way to the final and playing a team like Real Madrid, we must be in the best possible shape.”
James, who is on loan at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, was being interviewed about his thoughts of playing against his parent club and being opposed to Cristiano Ronaldo. Part of the interview can be found on TZ’s online edition.
“We must believe in ourselves, remain calm and put up two strong games, but it won’t be easy because they know what it takes to fight for this title every year and are making history,” he told the Munich-based paper.
“But history has also shown that Bayern know how to face these games and we aren’t going to hide away from anything.”
When asked his views on Real’s late penalty, the Columbian skipped over the controversy to point out it was down to the team’s great work ethic earning its just rewards.
“That’s Real Madrid, it is what the club does. They want to win every game and try until the last minute,” he explained.
“They tried until the final second and their efforts were rewarded with the penalty. If you keep trying until the end, you’ll get your rewards.”
When it came to discussing Ronaldo, the former Porto man could not hide the admiration for his old playing partner but warned against focusing solely on the Champions League’s all time top scorer.
“He’s a goalscoring machine who is always there whenever he is needed so we have to be strong as a team to try to make sure he doesn’t have his best day,” he continued.
“But it is the same with other players. Real aren’t just Ronaldo, they have great players in other positions and what’s clear is that it won’t be easy.”
The first Champions League semi final takes place at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday 25th April and the return leg will be played at the Bernabeu on Tuesday 1st May.
The teams met in the quarter-final of last season’s competition when the tie was decided in extra time in the Bernabeu after both legs finished 1-2 in normal time. Ronaldo scored two extra time goals to complete a hat-trick on the night with Marco Asensio finishing the reply to Bayern’s two away goals.
