Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges the uphill battle facing his team against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. Despite slim initial odds, Guardiola expresses confidence in his team's ability to challenge the Spanish giants and secure a memorable victory.
Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Manchester City 's chances of advancing to the next round of the Champions League are significantly better than the 1 percent he initially projected after the first leg defeat against Real Madrid . However, he emphasized that the situation remains challenging and his team will need a near-perfect performance at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium to overcome the deficit.
Guardiola expressed a sense of determination, stating that City must at least give Real Madrid a scare. He also addressed Jude Bellingham's sending-off in the previous match, revealing that despite eight years in England, he still struggles to differentiate between certain expletives. He highlighted that the intention behind the words matters more than the specific insult. Reflecting on his past experiences at the Bernabéu, Guardiola shared that he holds fond memories of the venue. He acknowledged the intense pressure that comes with playing against such a formidable opponent, but stressed that the same level of pressure exists in games against other top teams like Barcelona, Anfield, or Arsenal. He embraced the challenge, stating that pressure is an integral part of high-level competition and that it cannot be avoided. Guardiola emphasized the importance of playing with courage, maintaining self-belief, and adopting a winning mentality. He recalled his time as Barcelona's coach, where his team defeated Real Madrid in the 2011 Champions League semi-final and inflicted a humiliating 6-nil defeat in La Liga. Despite these past triumphs, Guardiola acknowledged that the current situation is different. City's 3-2 loss in the first leg means that none of his previous victories at the Bernabéu as City's manager would be enough to secure their passage to the next round. He initially claimed a 1 percent chance of progressing after the first leg, a statement that was met with skepticism by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. Ancelotti dismissed the notion that Madrid's chances stood at 99 percent, asserting that he would ask Guardiola if he truly believed his team's hopes were so slim. Guardiola, in a lighthearted tone, admitted that he had exaggerated the odds to downplay expectations. He reiterated City's determination to improve upon their first leg performance and at least make Real Madrid uneasy
Champions League Real Madrid Manchester City Pep Guardiola Santiago Bernabéu Jude Bellingham Carlo Ancelotti
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