By Nurudeen Obalola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Real Madrid’s forward line could hurt his side in the UEFA Champions League knockout play-offs.
The sides meet in the first leg of the play-offs on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium, with the reverse fixture set for Wednesday next week in Madrid.
France captain Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid in the summer and has been in impressive form in recent games, while Vinicius Junior is the current holder of The Best FIFA Player of the Year award.
The other members of the Real Madrid front four, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, have also been in good form.
“Their front players are exceptional. They have the ability for short, long passes so we have to impose our game,” Guardiola said on Monday at his pre-match press conference, adding that his own players can also hold their own.
“Of course we can play well but we are not consistent like we have been. I can’t deny I have trust with the players who have been so good for a decade.”
Although the two clubs have won the last three editions of the Champions League between them (Real Madrid in 2022 and 2024, Manchester City in 2023), they struggled in the new format this season, both finishing well outside the top eight that automatically advanced to the round of 16.
Guardiola believes facing such tough opposition in the play-offs is just rewards for his side’s poor league phase campaign.
“When you finish 22nd out of 24, you cannot ask for any favours. We didn’t get enough points to even be close to the [top] eight,” the Spaniard said, while hoping for a lift on Tuesday.
“We have got what we deserved. Our team has something special. Hopefully tomorrow we can do it.
“It’s always better to have the game at home second with your own people but we didn’t deserve it.”
Manchester City and Real Madrid have faced each other consistently in the last four Champions League seasons with mixed results, but Guardiola insists the 15-time winners have a superior pedigree.
The former Barcelona boss believes victory over Real Madrid might be the spark his side need in a season that has been poor by their recent standards.
He said: “In the last years we have had a great rivalry with Real [Madrid] but in terms of the history we cannot compare to be honest. In the last decade we have been around.
“If we win, it will be a big boost for the remainder of the season. I know how we want to play. I know they are looking forward to the game tomorrow. We cannot forget a decade ago we weren’t here.”
When asked if he feared for his job, with City struggling both domestically and in Europe, Guardiola said: “No. I don’t know if a doctor will be asked about his position. I am here because of what I have won in previous seasons. I don’t think I am going to be thrown out onto the street.”
Real Madrid boycotted the 2024 Ballon d’Or in protest as City’s Rodri won the award ahead of Vinicius, but Guardiola claimed he was not bothered by their action.
“There are no hard feelings about the Ballon D’Or; Rodri won it. Vinicius could have won it too,” he said.
Also on Tuesday in the Champions League play-offs, Brest will host fellow French club Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting Lisbon welcome Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus visit PSV.
