Babalola Oluwatomiwa
Social Member
Rudi Garcia, Roma coach: Real Madrid will be favourites. We faced Barcelona in the group stage and now Real Madrid, but we are in the Champions League for this reason. In February we will have a few players back from injury and we will be ready to give everything. All the lads are ready and looking forward to this tie.
Jeffrey Bruma, PSV defender: Atlético are a top team with fantastic players. Realistically Atlético are the better team in theory, but we are certainly not without a chance. The draw could have been worse, so we have to look on the bright side.
It might be an advantage if they see us as underdogs, but I doubt that with such a clever coach [Diego Simeone]. They really fight for each other, run metres for each other and fix each other's mistakes.
Diego Benaglio, Wolfsburg goalkeeper: That is a good draw, but we must not let ourselves be fooled by it. Gent have proved in the group stage that they have lots of quality. It is now our task to put in two good performances, as it is our clear goal to survive this stage. Going through is definitely within the realms of possibility.
Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg coach: Gent asserted themselves in a group against Valencia and Lyon and alongside us are the surprise package in the round of 16. We have big respect for them. For both teams, the knockout stages of the Champions League are uncharted territory. So I expect an interesting encounter in which we will have to show everything to reach the next round.
Serhiy Rebrov, Dynamo Kyiv coach: We'll begin the year with Champions League matches. It's not a new thing for Dynamo. We know how to build form and prepare for such games. We progressed from our group, but we still need to add some strength.
Philipp Lahm, Bayern defender: A very nice tie between two top sides – a European classic. Juventus made the final last season so it is a big challenge, but we want to reach the quarter-finals and will give everything to do so.
Thomas Müller, Bayern forward: Juventus have a very clever side and of course in Mario Mandžukić a top goalscorer, who we know very well from his time in Munich. In the Champions League, we have always had good experiences with Juve. I am especially looking forward to the Juventus Stadium – it will be a real occasion.
Serhiy Rebrov, Dynamo Kyiv coach: City are a solid, well-balanced team, but we have already played against them and had success. Everyone has weak points. Our job is to find them. It will be a busy time in the Premier League then. Clubs will play twice a week and this also will be significant.
André Villas-Boas, Zenit coach: We will play against a very experienced team that have got to two UEFA Europa League finals and two semi-finals in the last five years. We know our opponents very well as we faced them in the UEFA Champions League last season.
We understand we have to improve a lot in order to win. These games will also be tough because of the long winter break in the Russian championship. We have to fully concentrate on preparing for these matches.
Klaus Allofs, Wolfsburg general manager: We are very pleased. Our two clubs are meeting the teams that everyone else wanted to be drawn against. Gent are an unknown quantity, a newcomer in the Champions League. For us, this is an interesting draw, which seems doable – without taking this opponent too lightly.
Franz Beckenbauer, Bayern ambassador: Juve are one of the best sides in Europe. It is a mouthwatering tie. Surely it is an advantage for Bayern to play the first leg away, to get to know Juve first.
Albert Soler, Barcelona director: Arsenal and Barcelona have a similar style of play. The fans will enjoy themselves, we’re two sides with a similar understanding of the game. They will be two great matches. We must have maximum respect for Arsenal, they’re a great team and although we have a difficult task ahead it will be a guaranteed spectacle of football.
Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid director: It’s a very special competition. Roma are a tough side, they'll be really up for it and they compete well. If we see ourselves as favourites things won't go well for us. Roma are an Italian side and Italian teams give you nothing.
Clemente Villaverde, Atlético representative: We’re really happy to be here for the third year in a row. PSV are a strong side, they're a side with a lot of history in Europe and I'm sure they’ll make life difficult for us.
Jeffrey Bruma, PSV defender: Atlético are a top team with fantastic players. Realistically Atlético are the better team in theory, but we are certainly not without a chance. The draw could have been worse, so we have to look on the bright side.
It might be an advantage if they see us as underdogs, but I doubt that with such a clever coach [Diego Simeone]. They really fight for each other, run metres for each other and fix each other's mistakes.
Diego Benaglio, Wolfsburg goalkeeper: That is a good draw, but we must not let ourselves be fooled by it. Gent have proved in the group stage that they have lots of quality. It is now our task to put in two good performances, as it is our clear goal to survive this stage. Going through is definitely within the realms of possibility.
Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg coach: Gent asserted themselves in a group against Valencia and Lyon and alongside us are the surprise package in the round of 16. We have big respect for them. For both teams, the knockout stages of the Champions League are uncharted territory. So I expect an interesting encounter in which we will have to show everything to reach the next round.
Serhiy Rebrov, Dynamo Kyiv coach: We'll begin the year with Champions League matches. It's not a new thing for Dynamo. We know how to build form and prepare for such games. We progressed from our group, but we still need to add some strength.
Philipp Lahm, Bayern defender: A very nice tie between two top sides – a European classic. Juventus made the final last season so it is a big challenge, but we want to reach the quarter-finals and will give everything to do so.
Thomas Müller, Bayern forward: Juventus have a very clever side and of course in Mario Mandžukić a top goalscorer, who we know very well from his time in Munich. In the Champions League, we have always had good experiences with Juve. I am especially looking forward to the Juventus Stadium – it will be a real occasion.
Serhiy Rebrov, Dynamo Kyiv coach: City are a solid, well-balanced team, but we have already played against them and had success. Everyone has weak points. Our job is to find them. It will be a busy time in the Premier League then. Clubs will play twice a week and this also will be significant.
André Villas-Boas, Zenit coach: We will play against a very experienced team that have got to two UEFA Europa League finals and two semi-finals in the last five years. We know our opponents very well as we faced them in the UEFA Champions League last season.
We understand we have to improve a lot in order to win. These games will also be tough because of the long winter break in the Russian championship. We have to fully concentrate on preparing for these matches.
Klaus Allofs, Wolfsburg general manager: We are very pleased. Our two clubs are meeting the teams that everyone else wanted to be drawn against. Gent are an unknown quantity, a newcomer in the Champions League. For us, this is an interesting draw, which seems doable – without taking this opponent too lightly.
Franz Beckenbauer, Bayern ambassador: Juve are one of the best sides in Europe. It is a mouthwatering tie. Surely it is an advantage for Bayern to play the first leg away, to get to know Juve first.
Albert Soler, Barcelona director: Arsenal and Barcelona have a similar style of play. The fans will enjoy themselves, we’re two sides with a similar understanding of the game. They will be two great matches. We must have maximum respect for Arsenal, they’re a great team and although we have a difficult task ahead it will be a guaranteed spectacle of football.
Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid director: It’s a very special competition. Roma are a tough side, they'll be really up for it and they compete well. If we see ourselves as favourites things won't go well for us. Roma are an Italian side and Italian teams give you nothing.
Clemente Villaverde, Atlético representative: We’re really happy to be here for the third year in a row. PSV are a strong side, they're a side with a lot of history in Europe and I'm sure they’ll make life difficult for us.
