Jonny Evans knows the pressure will be on for both sides when Manchester United tackle Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Real coach Jose Mourinho underlined the importance of this week’s Champions League showdown on Sunday when he said it is a match “the whole world wants to see”.
Tickets have certainly been pretty hard to come by, with many United fans booking trips to Madrid without a clue as to how they will actually get to see the game.
Mourinho is under the microscope, with his side trailing badly in La Liga, in stark contrast to United, whose victory over Everton at Old Trafford took them 12 points clear of Manchester City with only 12 games remaining.
But that does not mean Sir Alex Ferguson does not care about who progresses.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
And, whilst Evans and his team-mates will be doing their best to shield themselves from the hype surrounding the fixture, the Northern Ireland defender knows it cannot completely be avoided.
“You don’t get to appreciate it as a player,” he said.
“You miss the build-up because you are trying to keep your head down and making sure you are physically and mentally right.
“But we do know the pressure will be heightened and all the eyes are on us.
“I suppose Real Madrid have always had that. They are expected and if they don’t do it, there is uproar.
“But we have that pressure on us.
“I am sure it will be a great occasion and everyone is looking forward to it as much as we are.”
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