Real Madrid executive reacts to Champions League draw: ‘Objective is to finish among the top eight’

Former Real Madrid player Emilio Butragueno, now the club's Director of Institutional Relations, commented on the team's reaction to the 2026/27 Champions League draw. The draw placed Jose Mourinho's side in a challenging group, featuring matches against Arsenal, Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, AS Roma, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, LASK, and AEK Athens.

Butragueno, who attended the draw in Monaco, emphasized the difficulty of the competition and the need for the right mentality to succeed. He expressed excitement about the challenge and reiterated the club's goal to finish within the top eight, thereby avoiding the first knockout round and advancing directly to the round of 16.

Real Madrid's return to the Champions League after two consecutive eliminations at the quarter-final stage presents a significant opportunity for Mourinho and his new signings to reclaim the title.