Guardiola praises Real Madrid attackers ahead of UCL showdown – ‘They are exceptional’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid and Manchester City have engaged in many spectacular UEFA Champions League clashes in recent years and it is not surprising that the victor in the last three seasons has gone on to be crowned the king of Europe.

This time, however, they meet much earlier than expected as they lock horns in the playoff round of the new format of the UCL.

The winner over two legs will earn a place in the Round of 16 of the competition, and given Real Madrid’s injury struggles and Manchester City’s poor form, it will be a very level playing field.

Guardiola’s thoughts

Speaking to the media ahead of the big UCL showdown between the two European giants, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola shared his thoughts on what will unfold over two legs and the magnitude of the fixture.

He began, however, by admitting that both teams have had a fair share of injuries this season and that his side did not manage it all that well.

“Both teams have had problems in terms of injuries during the season. I think Madrid has managed it much better than us because they continue to lead the league and fight against Atlético de Madrid.”

“That shows once again the consistency they have. In the end, they are a great opponent,” he added.

Elaborating on his thoughts on Real Madrid as an opponent, especially in Europe, Guardiola said,

“We know. We have faced them many times and we know that in difficult times they give the best version of themselves. Of course, we have to play two good games to qualify.”

Speaking on facing Real Madrid at such an early juncture in the competition, the manager admitted that it was deserved given how poor his team was in the Champions League so far.

“We didn’t deserve to qualify directly for the round of 16. It was Madrid or Bayern and the playoff will be a challenge.”

“We play the second game away because we deserve it, we have not done a good group stage. Our team has something special and hopefully tomorrow we can prove it,” he added.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City has not become a staple fixture as the winner of the game over the past three seasons has gone on to win the UCL. Speaking on the grand fixture, he said,

“In recent years it has been a great rivalry, we have faced each other many times. But historically Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, and AC Milan are on another level.”

“Against Madrid, we have had good and bad results, with both teams playing well and competing. I think the playoff is going to be very cool,” he added.

Guardiola’s Man City take on Real Madrid tomorrow. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Guardiola is aware of the threat

The Spanish tactician was then asked to share his thoughts on Real Madrid as an institution and the threat the highly accomplished locker room brought with it.

“I have a lot of respect for Madrid and its players, it has always been like this. We know that they have a lot of talent, but Madrid has always stood out for being solid.”

“When you get four forwards like they have to get involved in defense, the team is much better,” he added.

Speaking specifically about the threat Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham carried, the Premier League manager said,

“It’s impossible to control these players in 90/120/200 minutes.”

“They are exceptional, everyone knows it: how they combine, the skill in the one-on-one, how they keep the ball, the four are exceptional and we have to try to reduce their participation,” he added.

Finally, he spoke about Real Madrid boycotting the Ballon d’Or gala after Rodri won the accolade ahead of Vinicius Jr.

“It doesn’t bother me at all. We are very happy for Rodri. Vinicius had a fantastic season and could deserve the award.”

Guardiola’s prediction

The legendary Barcelona manager was finally asked to give his verdict on what would happen over the two legs, and unsurprisingly he did not have a clear winner.

“We know that the playoff will be tough in both games and we will try to play two good games. Being a favorite or not does not change much. What matters is what happens on the field.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo