Manuel Pellegrini urges players to have 'hot hearts, cold minds' against Madrid

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has told his players to have 'hot hearts and cold minds' when they take on Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

The North-West outfit will compete in their first ever semi-final in the elite competition when they host the Spanish giants at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.

City reached the final four by overcoming Paris Saint-Germain across two legs in the quarter-finals, while Madrid beat Wolfsburg to progress.

"It's very important to enjoy the semi-final as it's not an achievement we do every year," Pellegrini told reporters in Monday's press conference.

"The players know that. It's important not to be comfortable because we're at this stage. Everyone wants to continue, to play the final. Tomorrow we'll see a team that will play to win.

"We need a hot heart and a cold mind. Against Barcelona we played with one player less both times. It's very difficult with 10 players. We need our emotions under control."

City are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions.