All South African eyes will be on Club Brugge’s Percy Tau when they tackle Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League on Tuesday (6.55pm).
The Bafana Bafana star was an unused substitute in their opening European game, a goalless draw with Galatasaray two weeks ago.
But last week, the 25-year-old scored and set up two more goals for his team in a 3-0 win in midweek before coach Philippe Clement took him off in a 5-0 win over Michelen, with the clash against the Spanish giants in mind.
And SA’s only Champions League winner Benni McCarthy says that if Tau gets his chance to take on Eden Hazard and company, he should not let the aura of Real overawe him.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL #RMCLU pic.twitter.com/ORFC5OyEm2
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge)
McCarthy tells Tau: “When the call comes you must take it. Like I tell my players, he shouldn’t let the occasion get to him. He must play his game.
“You play the occasion, you don’t let the occasion play you. Real Madrid is just another game.
“It’s just the history. And when you get your moment, make it happen. Don’t change because you are at the Bernabeu.”
WE’RE WAITING: Real’s Hazard. Picture: Bernat Armangue/AP.
Tau’s former Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane adds: “Percy never shies away from any challenge and he will play his normal game and double his efforts and do his thing.
“I just hope he does well and maybe he can sneak in one goal.”