CAPE TOWN – As the South African football fraternity waits with bated breath to watch Bafana Bafana striker Percy Tau making his UEFA Champions League debut against Real Madrid, the youngster has been advised to remain calm.
According to former Bafana striker and UEFA Champions League winner, Benni McCarthy, the 25-year-old must take the game against the Spanish giants like any football match.
Currently in the books of Club Brugge in Belgium, the former Mamelodi Sundowns hitman is set to feature for the Belgian outfit against Los Blancos at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night.
Having won Europe’s premier competition with FC Porto in the 2003/04 season under Jose Mourinho, McCarthy is aware of what is needed to face top European clubs.
Lead them the way, coach!👉🏻 #UCL #RMCLU pic.twitter.com/gqPYhicJf7
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) September 30, 2019
“The kid is doing what he is supposed to do, you can only work hard, at the end of the day, it is down to the management and coach to select you. But I watch them, I do switch on to watch Club Brugge and I like to see how Percy Tau is progressing,” McCarthy told the media.
“They’ve got a strong team and he must just keep working, the season is long and good or bad players, you still get injuries and when the call comes you have to take it.
“Real Madrid should be like a normal league game for Percy, do exactly the same, because the minute you start adjusting your game, you are putting too much pressure on yourself because it is a bigger team and different occasion. Just do what you do and prepare how you need to and if you can do a little extra, do it.
🏆 Voor het eerst in Bernabeu, ongeslagen in Europa en de rijke geschiedenis van Real (met blauw-zwart tintje). Alle facts over #RMCLU lees je hier ⬇️
FACTS | https://t.co/MeXguXgkmy pic.twitter.com/3jL0jVXsCk
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) September 30, 2019
“But he shouldn’t let the occasion play him because he plays at the Bernabeu. People want to stand and look at where Ronaldo played, he must just play his own game, he is a good quality player to not be phased by that,” he concluded.
The Witbank-born striker has been included Philippe Clement’s 23-man matchday squad en route to Madrid in their second UEFA Champions League group stage encounter.
Although he is yet to feature for the Belgian side in the European competition, Tau has been in fine form for Brugge where he has netted three goals and as many assists in all competitions so far.
The clash will get underway at 18:55 on Tuesday night CAT.
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