Dias fired up for return of the UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Ruben Dias says he is approaching the onset of the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a huge sense of excitement.

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City return to the European stage on Wednesday evening when we travel to play Real Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 16.

The mouth-watering tie marks the latest instalment of what has become a familiar and fiercely contested match-up between the English and Spanish sides over recent years.

City have already travelled to the Bernabeu this term, recording a memorable 2-1 victory there last December in a league phase meeting.

Now comes the first of two fixtures laced with even more meaning with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

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For his part, Dias admits he can’t wait for the occasion and to return to European action.

“It’s the Champions League at the end of the day,” said the City centre back.

“We all want it, just like when we were children, when we were little.

“We want to be part of the Champions League in order to play in these games,

“And so, we take them with a great deal of joy.

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“From my point of view, with a lot of happiness, because this is the level you want to be at.

“You want to show your work and be good, very good, excellent, at the highest level.

“I feel good. I feel strong.

“We’re in all the competitions and now we are focused on the next game.”

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