Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says the team needed to concentrate for the entire 90 minutes against Manchester City on Tuesday.
Los Blancos emerged with a 0-0 draw from their trip to the Etihad Stadium and know that a win in front of their home fans next week in the second leg will take them to the final in Milan in May.
Real were less adventurous than in previous games with Cristiano Ronaldo absent through injury and Karim Benzema taken off during the game.
From a defensive side, the 10-time winners looked strong as they secured their ninth shut out in the competition this season.
In quotes published on the club website, Ramos said the players had to give their all for the entire match.
“In the second half we were more comfortable and had more of the ball, although we were unable to score. I focus on the attitude of the team, who despite the injuries we had, have stood up tall. These types of games demand a lot of concentration because small mistakes define knock-out ties. The team tried to do damage on the counter attack, especially in the second half with more precision,” he said.
Asked about Ronaldo and whether his absense was keenly felt, Ramos commented: “He’s fundamental for us and we know how important it is for him to be out on the pitch but we’ve got a great squad and whoever plays does a good job. He would have liked to get to this stage of the season in the best possible fashion, but there are players who have had less minutes who come out and show fight.”
