Real need a balanced approach - Khedira

28 April 2013 19:17

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has said his side need to balance defence and attack intelligently as they try to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Borussia Dortmund in the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

The Germans destruction of the Spanish champions in the first-leg last week has made them strong favourites to progress to the final at Wembley next month, but Khedira says Dortmund's three-goal salvo in 17 second-half minutes shows why Madrid can't go gung-ho right from the off.

"It is important to score a goal early, but at the same time we can't lose our head. We have to find a middle ground," he told the club's website.

"The manager will prepare us very well for this game because an early goal for the opponent can increase the pressure even more. Therefore we need to pressure Dortmund up front but not from the first minute because the game last 90 minutes and we have already seen how quickly they can score one or more goals."

Madrid do though have a habit of coming back from big first-leg deficits in European competition throughout their history and Khedira is confident this generation of Real players can make their own mark in the club' history.

"We have a last chance to return to doing things well. In the first-leg we were not convincing as a team and we played a very weak match.

"Now we have to try and do everything possible. Real Madrid has had more than one magic night at the Bernabeu, especially in the European Cup. We will try to add another one to this list."

However, Real's chances of an unlikely comeback could also be undermined by the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese is struggling with a thigh injury he picked up in the first-leg and Khedira knows how important his presence would be on Tuesday.

"Everyone that knows him, knows how he prepares for games, whether it be a decisive game or one with little to play for.

"He is a great professional, like the rest of the squad, but we especially need him and his goals on Tuesday."

Source: AFP