Luxemburgo ready for 'glamour' tie

Real Madrid CF coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo is looking forward to his first game in the UEFA Champions League against Juventus FC next week.

'Special glamour'
In an exclusive interview to be broadcast on the Champions League magazine programme across Europe this weekend, the Brazilian said: "I want to win every competition I am in, but I understand that the Champions League has a special glamour. Everybody talks about it all season."

Important success
The former Brazil coach, who has won five domestic titles in his native land, has revitalised Madrid's performances since taking over from Mariano García Remón, taking them on a long winning run after an opening victory in a six-minute fragment of a previously abandoned game against Real Sociedad de Fútbol.

Vital penalty
The teams started the six-minute match with the scores level at 1-1 but Madrid won and converted a penalty almost immediately to give their new coach a winning start. "The key to what has happened to us this year is the six minutes remaining of the Real Sociedad match," he said.

'Positive momentum'
"I insisted it was important to start well, to win and create a positive momentum that way," he said. "I would have been happy with anything except a defeat. It was important to win because it created the feeling that we could beat anybody under any circumstances."

No clues
The truth behind that momentum will be seen as Madrid take on Serie A high fliers Juventus at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday. However, Luxemburgo would not be drawn on his tactics. "I am not going to help [Fabio] Capello to find out how we are going to play," he said. "I prefer not to talk about that."

'I believe in work'
However, what is certain is that Madrid will boast an impressive work ethic. "The positive run in the league is down to a bit of calm in the locker room, maybe a bit of luck," he said, adding: "On second thoughts, I don't believe much in luck - I believe in work. If you work hard, luck comes with it."

uefa.com will publish more of this interview next week. To view an exclusive clip of the interview, go to uefa.com action.