The encounter is set for Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final
Pep Guardiola has emphasized the importance of Manchester City hurting and punishing Real Madrid as they prepare to face off in the Champions League once again. The showdown will unfold in the first leg of their quarter-final at the Bernabeu on Tuesday
The upcoming clash marks the third consecutive season where these two clubs face off in the knockout stages. In 2022, Real staged a remarkable comeback to win the semi-final, but City avenged that loss the following year. Ahead of the match, Guardiola highlighted the evolution of both squads, stating, “It’s the same managers, but we have new players and they have new players, so they will be completely different games
Guardiola acknowledged the slight advantage of playing the second leg at home, where City feels strong and confident. However, he emphasized the importance of focusing on the full 90 minutes of the first leg. Guardiola highlighted Real Madrid’s strengths, including their ability to press high, aggressiveness, and danger posed by their incredible pace
Guardiola stressed that Manchester City cannot approach the game with the sole intention of controlling it. Instead, they must aim to hurt and punish Real Madrid, making their presence felt by scoring goals. However, he acknowledged the challenge posed by Real Madrid, highlighting their ability to control various aspects of the game. Guardiola emphasized the importance of City imposing their own style of play and identity on the match
City midfielder Rodri believes that the team, having secured a treble, has gleaned valuable lessons from their previous encounters with Real Madrid. Drawing from their successes last season, the squad has evolved into a more resilient force. Rodri, who arrived at City from Real’s local rivals Atletico in 2019, emphasized that the team’s enhanced maturity and experience in winning competitions instill a sense of calmness
We’ve definitely learned from our past encounters. With each experience, we’ve gained maturity, which is evident compared to our initial clashes with them
Reflecting on the semi-final loss, we recognize that it was a brief spell of 10 or 15 minutes that turned the tide. However, we didn’t dwell on that setback last year. Instead, we approached subsequent matches with a winning mindset, resulting in our triumph
Now, we arrive with a different mentality and greater composure, ready to tackle the challenge with confidence.While we understand that tomorrow’s outcome won’t determine everything, securing a positive result is crucial. I observe a heightened maturity within the team, and our collective experience instills the confidence needed to perform effectively.Unfortunately, we’ll be missing England full-back Kyle Walker due to a thigh injury, and Nathan Ake is sidelined with a calf issue. There’s uncertainty surrounding Josko Gvardiol’s availability, as he’s nursing a knock