Pep Guardiola causes Manchester City to prove they are still a “special” team against Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City prove that they are still “special” side when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League.
City has to overcome Real in a two-day play-off to secure his place in the last 16 competitions after he finished in 22th place in the newly opened League phase.
In fact, the winners of 2023 needed a win over Club Brugge in their last group game to avoid completely leaving the competition, while also in fifth place in the Premier League during the season so far.
On the eve of the first leg on Tuesday at Etihad, Guardiola said: “The group phase, the knockout phase is always heavy, we did not manage well in the group stage, so we deserve to be where we are. [we] Accept the challenge. “
“We play the second game because we were not good enough in the group stage. We didn’t deserve it [to go straight through to the last 16].
But the city boss insisted: “Tim, our team, there is something special and we hope we can prove it tomorrow.
“I will not deny that the trust with the players who have given us this amazing decade, winning many things and playing a high standard, I know what we are capable of.
“Of course, today we will prepare with the team, which will cause and hope that we will succeed well.”
Ruben 💬 Since I’m here, this may be the hardest season so far, but I’m a firm believer that you can still achieve something beautiful in the most difficult scenario. We know it will be difficult to get there, but we have to believe in what we have in … pic.twitter.com/fgyjroz9Ax
– Manchester City (@Mancity) 10. February 2025
The rivalry of the city and Real Madrid
The play-off will be the fourth consecutive season that City and Real have pulled each other into the knockout stages of the Champions League, with all three previous matches to the semifinals.
Their permanent battles, which have been twice seen by the real progress, and once on the way to the victory at the high tall in 2023, many have led to the meeting that they consider the match one of the great modern rivalry in football.
At that notion, Guardiola added: “In terms of the last decade that, maybe, because it is not normal to play the same rival all the time.
“As for history, the Champions League, in the end, we cannot compare to be honest with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or AC Milan. This type of group.
“We have been around in the last decade. In recent years, the draw, we have been playing against them.”
Real -s front four threats
The city will test on Tuesday some of the most deadly attackers in Europe, and the real boast of the complex line of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.
“It is impossible to control these players 90/120/200 minutes,” Guardiola said.
“They are exceptional as they combine, runners, the ability one against one, holding the ball, all four are exceptional.
“Everyone knows this, so you have to reduce this involvement as much as possible, knowing that this will happen, accept.”
