Kylian Mbappe revealed who he wanted Real Madrid to face next within the Champions League after the emphatic victory over Manchester City.
Mbappe’s sensational hat-trick took Champions League holders Real past Man City and into the knockout rounds.
Leading 3-2 after the primary leg on the Etihad Stadium, Real Madrid battered Pep Guardiola’s side on the Bernabeu to establish a last-16 clash with Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.
Some Real Madrid fans could also be hoping to avoid city rivals Atletico but Mbappe is keen for a mouth-watering clash with Diego Simeone’s side.
Atletico have impressed this season, climbing to 3rd within the La Liga table – only one point behind joint leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona – and qualifying routinely for the Champions League knockout stages.
Leverkusen also finished within the top-eight of the revamped group phase while they still have aspirations of winning the Bundesliga, currently sitting eight points behind German giants Bayern Munich.
After being awarded together with his Player of the Match award, Mbappe said: ‘I actually have all the time said I didn’t come here simply to finish a dream. I would like to play well, I would like to mark an era.
‘I knew I couldn’t be doing worse than I used to be initially here, and I knew that I had to start to play with personality. As for goals, I don’t set myself any limits.
‘If I can rating 50 goals I’ll; if I can rating more, I’ll. But I’ve often scored numerous goals in my profession and never won trophies. If I can rating and lift trophies, let me enroll for that immediately.
‘This was an ideal night. We desired to win and this was the way to do it. To us, it’s logical that Madrid are within the quarter-final.
‘We gave all the pieces in front of our home fans and we won because we produced an excellent performance against City, who’re all the time difficult to play.
‘Truthfully, I might moderately we’re drawn against Atleti. They and Bayern are two great clubs and it could be difficult either way.
‘But in the following round, it could be a lot better for us if we don’t should travel – we travel a lot!’
‘Bayer Leverkusen or Atleti next? Each difficult but I prefer Atleti, so we save ourselves a visit!’
Carlo Ancelotti was asked the identical query after Real Madrid’s emphatic victory but decided to maintain his cards near his chest.
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Truthfully I don’t know. Who I would like tonight could change tomorrow.
‘All I would like to say in regards to the draw is that each Atleti and Leverkusen are good rivals and we are going to respect them.’
Mbappe settled any Real Madrid nerves inside five minutes, latching onto a hopeful long ball and lobbing Ederson.
The France World Cup winner doubled Real Madrid’s lead with a shocking finish on 33 minutes before adding his and the hosts’ third after the break.
‘It was a great evening and a great performance from us,’ England midfielder Jude Bellingham told TNT Sports.
‘It was a extremely enjoyable game to play in. A very powerful thing for us was the defensive side of the sport.
‘We knew that when we boxed that off, we could attack with more freedom. That was the important thing tonight and within the [first leg].’
Asked what it’s wish to play behind Mbappe, Bellingham added: ‘It’s sensible twiddling with him. You go into games knowing you possibly can give him the ball and he’s going to affect things.
‘Our jobs behind him and the remaining of the front three is to try to get them into the perfect positions possible and I actually try to get within the box too.
‘You understand when Kylian gets the ball within the areas he likes on the pitch he’s going to be dangerous. Left foot or right foot. He scored a couple of various kinds of goals today.
‘It’s incredible what he has done in his profession. I do know he had a slow start here and took time getting used to life here. Now he’s flying and it’s so good to see.’
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