Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the Champions League tie on his side with Real Madrid “feels like a derby” thanks to the number of games that the sides against each other had in recent times.
The city knew that they would play either real or Bayern Munich holders in the Play-Off Round and their fate was decided during Friday morning draw.
Real Knocked City outside last season’s square and the sides have played eight games from the Ferbury 2020-with the city moving in 2020 and 2023 and hit them in 2022 and last year.
Knockout phase play-offs have been set ✅#UCLDRAW pic.twitter.com/9kwmsgqwod
– UEFA Champions League (@championsleague) 31 January 2025
“It already feels like a derby,” Guardiola said. “It’s been four consecutive years that Real Madrid has been facing.
“But Bayern or Madrid – both were really harsh. Let’s hope we can get to the first foot here, and then to Madrid, as best as possible.”
The exhaustive program of February in their city now sees them really playing twice, Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal this Sunday.
Guardiola said the sides of the Premier League are taking a rough game about the Champions League games compared to other sides in top European leagues.
‘Broadcasting agencies decide’
He said: “The program is what it is. In the Premier League every team must play everyone. But normally in the Premier League they always put tougher programs for teams in Europe.
“The program is the most difficult because it is difficult to play against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, but the problem is in the middle is newcastle.
Pep 💬 (in Rodri) I always believe with major injuries there is a time to respect … the first month that was in Madrid all the time. Now, it’s great to have him here in the closet. His voice is important … The most important thing for Rodri now is to recover well … his … pic.twitter.com/ilkhssmwks
– Manchester City (@mancity) 31 January 2025
“They do not complain because we have incredible success by playing this calendar.
“I remember when I was in Barcelona and followed the Premier League and Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger made the same complaints.
“Do you think it’s going to change? Broadcasting agencies decide, they don’t ask me what’s best to play. ”
Arsenal ended as runners to the city in each of the last two Premier League campaigns, and Guardiola says he has a huge respect for the work his former assistant Mikel Arteta did with the Gunners.
He said: “Our relationship is excellent. With him and his family, excellent.
“Of course we are not in touch now. He has his business and I have my own and other games, but the respect we have is always there.”
