Beckie: City's big game players ready to deliver in Champions League | OneFootball

Janine Beckie feels Manchester City have the talent and belief to deliver success in the Women’s Champions League this season.

The Canadian says European glory remains a significant goal of Gareth Taylor’s side and she is confident a squad packed with big game players can achieve their aim.

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The Champions League is the only title to elude City, whose tournament begins in the second round against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening and Beckie admits there is a buzz about the squad ahead of the new continental campaign.

“It’s just one of those things that brings the energy into that changing room,” she told mancity.com ahead of the first leg in the Spanish capital.

“There’s a different energy when the Champions League games are played, it’s pretty special to play under the lights too and both of those games will be that.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than that and the occasion is big. I think the big players show up in big opportunities, and we have a team full of big players very excited to go after this title and confident that we can do it.

“When you have a group of players hyper focused on one goal, it’s tough not to get there.

“We’re really looking forward to it, everyone’s buzzing and ready to go, it’s been a great pre-season and things are looking forward.”

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Whilst Beckie is confident, she knows City will have to be at our best against Madrid over two legs.

The Spanish giants only launched a women’s side 13 months ago, integrating the team formerly known as Club Deportivo TACON into their club and achieving a second placed finish in their first season in the Primera Division.

They are something of an unknown quantity at Champions League level, but can call on the services of former City forward Kosovare Asllani and Beckie says there is no danger of Taylor’s squad taking the opposition lightly.

“It’s probably among maybe two other teams, the toughest draw we could’ve got this round, but we love those kind of challenges,” she added.

“Something about Madrid this team really likes when it comes to the Champions League. I’m not too mad about going to the Spanish sun for a few days but it’s a test that’ll be difficult for sure.

“They’re still very early on in their existence, that poses a different kind of challenge because we don’t know a whole lot about them but they have some incredible players, including some I played against at the Olympics like Kosovare Asllani, and a couple of other very talented players.

“We’re definitely not underestimating them at all. We know they’ll give us some issues but hopefully we can take care of business on the road and then get them at home. It should be a good series.”