Every Word: Pep Guardiola’s pre-Real Madrid press conference | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has addressed the media on the eve of his side’s Champions League semi-final second-leg clash with Real Madrid.

City will look to book their place in a second Champions League final under Pep Guardiola, with the opponents for the victors being either AC Milan or Inter Milan in Istanbul, Turkey – with the latter holding the advantage going into Tuesday night’s second-leg.

Last time out, Pep Guardiola’s side secured yet another crucial three points in the Premier League courtesy of a 0-3 away win over Everton, putting them within one win of a third consecutive top-flight title following Arsenal’s 0-3 capitulation at home to Brighton.

The weekend’s result only further increases Manchester City’s chances of securing an exceptional treble of silverware in the coming weeks, with an FA Cup final against Manchester United already in the calendar for next month.

His Manchester City legacy, the prospect of winning every trophy on offer, and the prospect of an overthink against Real Madrid were among the talking points raised during Pep Guardiola’s address to the media on Tuesday afternoon.

Here is every word from the boss at the City Football Academy!

On fans embracing the Champions League and winning the tournament

“Of course they embrace it, we are used to the competition and arrive in the last stages. Sold out, we try to do a good game.”

“When I arrive here, they didn’t say win the Champions League. They said try to do the best as possible. We won all the titles except this one. We want it. Losing against Chelsea, Madrid, of course we want it. This is what we want, people say we are close, I think we are far away. At the same time, every time it happens against Madrid or Chelsea, is a dream come true to come here. Nobody guarantees in the future we’ll be here. Once we are there, let’s go. Try to go for it, be together in the bad moments, suffer, we play with our people.”

On whether the next month defines his Manchester City legacy

“My legacy is already exceptional! Here for many times already, we are not stupid to know how important tomorrow is. Maybe the most important since we’ve been here. I say to the players, live it, enjoy the moment. How fortunate we are. It’s in our hands, depends on us, don’t have to do anything exceptional. Be ourselves, give everything. I have an incredible feeling about the team. Whatever happens, thank you for bringing us here to be again.”

“After the first season, first I wouldn’t expect seven years. I have incredible self confidence but not enough. This league is really tough. How pleased I am, this consistency is always there.”

On playing with emotion

“Emotion is there and will be high. Has to be high. Just this is not going to beat a team like Real Madrid. We need a bit better game plan, adjust a little bit. Create more chances or be our strikers – get more balls in easy positions. Know their transitions, quality. We play against Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League, the toughest opponents. It’s a challenge. We go for it.

“We arrive really good, we’re in the FA Cup final, one game from the Premier League, but we have to play better than Madrid. We have to perform well, not just the desire. Relax, only have to do what we have done for many years. This is what we have to do, not just the desire to reach the final. We have to be better than the Bernabeu to get the final.”

On the fitness of the Manchester City squad

“Yeah (fully-fit). Except Nathan (Ake), everyone is fit.”

On who is favourite for the tie

“I don’t know. Of course we are in the latter stages every season. I don’t want luck tomorrow, the team who deserves to win, hopefully wins. Doesn’t matter which one, hopefully be us. The players have to make an incredible performance to beat Madrid. I have an idea to be more different, more fluid in attack. It will happen naturally at home, we feel free, doesn’t matter, we go. That’s a feeling we have. Be ourselves, the rest I play 10 semi-finals for the CL, I lost seven. I know that feeling, there are many things you can’t control.”

“Hopefully you can see tomorrow. I cannot tell you, otherwise Carlo will hear. I’m not overthinking tomorrow, don’t worry guys. Nothing different to the past, just to be more fluid and play a bit better.

“If we had the game last year [4-3] I’d sign right now. I don’t think it will happen, the game dictates. The fluency, when you have the ball, how you react. This competition is uncertain things you cannot control. We will see, have a plan and try to secure it. Adapt as much as possible.”

On the Manchester City owners’ view

“They don’t have to put pressure of the owners or myself. Have to do it for themselves. They have done anything in the past, last season they did it. Just play a football game as best as they can. Not necessary to tell them how good Madrid are. They felt it last season, this season. To live, we are blessed.”

On his biggest fear about the Real Madrid squad

“Same as last year ,whatever competition or year they always have great squad. They always think of what they’re going to do. I think about what we’re going to do, our strengths and what our threats can be. We’ll try to impose ourselves on the game. We know what we can do. We want to minimise their threats.”

“I don’t know, if I knew that I’d know how to beat them. The reason is they’ve always had quality players, without that standard they wouldn’t achieve. When Milan won with Inzaghi, we all had quality players.”

“We’ve worked a lot, had a few days in Liverpool, not done anything different you know we can do. Nothing will change, approach the game in the same way. Wouldn’t make sense to change tactics. You think about your opponents. It’s impossible to pick out defects of opposition. We’ve worked on a few things, we’ll meet up, eat together, get on the bus and go and play the game.

“Be ourselves, don’t complicate things, relax. We beat Sevilla but it wasn’t a great performance. We’ve not lost, may have drawn a few. We won every game when we got to the final. Drew in Porto in the groups and lost the final. Tomorrow, 8pm, be the best game. Doesn’t exist anything in the past. Don’t worry about the past, perform the best you have.”