Pep Guardiola (foto: Getty Images)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola previewed his side’s highly anticipated Champions League clash with Real Madrid, acknowledging the challenge of containing Los Blancos’ attacking stars.
Pep Guardiola addressed the media ahead of Manchester City’s blockbuster showdown with Real Madrid, a fixture that has become a European classic in recent years. This will be the fifth meeting between the two sides in the last six Champions League campaigns, and Guardiola admitted the challenge will be immense.
Facing Real Madrid after a difficult group stage
"Real Madrid are always a very difficult opponent. We didn't do well during the first phase of this Champions League and we deserve to be in this situation. It will be a challenge for us."
City vs Madrid – A modern European rivalry
"City-Madrid has become a great duel in recent years. We've gone through a few times, a few times they've knocked us out. It’s now a classic, but historically we can't compare ourselves to clubs like Barcelona, Milan, or Bayern."
Injuries and Madrid’s resilience
"We have had problems with injuries this season. Both teams. Madrid have dealt with them better, as they are leading La Liga against one of the best versions of Barcelona in recent times. Madrid always compete well on every stage and we will need to be at a high level to go through."
City’s struggles with consistency
"We have not been consistent this season. We are capable of winning tomorrow or at the Bernabeu, but we concede a lot and we haven't been consistent. Despite that, I have confidence in my players. They have performed at a high level over the years. I hope we'll all be at our best against Madrid."
Real Madrid’s lethal attacking front
"You can't control Mbappe for 180 minutes. Neither him nor the rest of the four (Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham). They are exceptional, we all know that. We will try to reduce their involvement in the game. They are very skilful, they combine very well. They'll do that against us, but we'll try to impose our game, be smart and get a good result for the second leg at the Bernabeu."
Reflecting on last year’s Champions League exit
"In the quarter-finals of the last Champions League, we played well. This year, we have the second leg away because we didn’t do things right and didn’t get the points we needed. We could have played Madrid or Bayern. It was our fault, so we will have to do well tomorrow. I'm convinced that this team has something special and I hope we can prove it."
Analyzing Madrid’s potential lineup
"At Madrid, I look at everything. I don't know if Valverde will play at full-back or if Carlo (Ancelotti) will invent something. The front four are very talented, everyone knows that. Let's see if we can cause them problems. It will depend on how we are."
With Manchester City aiming to defend their Champions League crown, this tie against Real Madrid will be a defining moment in their season.