Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will have to play an almost “perfect game” to overturn a deficit of a goal in Real Madrid in the Champions League Knockout Play-Offs.
The City Trail real 3-2 from the first leg after two delayed goals at Etihad and is at the tie command against Guardiola as they return to the ground for the second leg.
Guardiola has already insisted on the city to have a “less than 1%” chance of reaching the last 16 against the 15 winners who oppose boss Carlo Ancelotti, and has no illusions about the team facing his team.
“We have to do it almost the perfect game,” he said. “We have to attack. We have to earn goals. This is the idea.”
Guardiola is determined that the city will not let Bernabeu wonder or regret it, saying, “We have to play with courage. We must be ourselves. We will need incredible courage and we have to play to win.
“We could still lose, but we have to show this courage and be ourselves. We have to play so well, especially after the result we got on the first leg.”
PEP 💬 We can beat in the 94th minute, but we are always a machine, every three days, no one has done what we did in England … Maybe we are not a stable team, maybe we lose Rodri, of course he is the best player in World … I am a coach of 13/14 years and … pic.twitter.com/51y886xqy2
– Manchester City (@mancity) 18 February 2025
The return of Pep’s Bernabeu
The city has endured mixed experiences during their trips to Bernabeu in recent years, having won during a draw that was affected by Koronai in 2020, before a dramatic defeat for 2022.
They then exorcised those demons a year later on the road to win the treasure, winning 5-1 in the inert after a 1-1 draw Bernabeu.
“I have some incredible memories here – sometimes good, sometimes not so good,” added Guardiola, who also managed Barcelona several times in Bernabeu.
“We know at this stage, and on this stadium. The pressure is there – but you take it to Milan, Barcelona, ​​Anfield. You have to suffer in these places. But you have to reduce these moments.”
Ancelotti wipes 1% of Pep
The real manager has exhausted the city’s proposals has a 1% chance of reaching the last 16, saying: “He doesn’t really believe it. We don’t think we have a 99% chance.
“We have a little advantage – and we have to take advantage of that.”
Guardiola replied, “For the first time she didn’t believe me. I always say what I think, and this time you don’t believe me.”
