Guardiola speaks on Manchester City's UCL draw with Real Madrid 🗣 | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has likened Manchester City and Real Madrid to a "derby" after the teams were drawn against one another in the Champions League for the fourth year in a row.

The two heavyweights will clash in the knockout round playoffs, with only one of the last two winners of the competition making their way into the round of 16.

Speaking ahead of another massive Premier League clash at Arsenal, the City boss said: "Well, it looks like a derby already! Four years in a row facing Madrid... Hopefully we can arrive in the moment of the first-leg here and the game one week later in Madrid as best as possible..."

The draw could have been nicer, yes. For one goal, we could've played another one. But who is to say that playing Celtic or another team would be even worse. We could play awful and they go through. The draw is the draw. Bayern Munich is extremely difficult, Real Madrid is extremely difficult..."

Guardiola also said James McAtee is "going to stay" despite understanding his frustration at a lack of regular game time.

"I don't think so [that there will be any offers this month]. We don't have enough players. We have a World Cup at the end of the season. We have a lot of games. I think he can play more minutes, and for minutes they have to continue to fight and I'm really pleased of Macca."

"Of course I understand his frustration [on game time]. Absolutely. I understand, I was a football player, and have incredible empathy to feel what he can feel."

"But the same happens for other players. And they have to be ready, and their best, and we don't want anyone unsatisfied, you know my opinion on that."

Guardiola added that City have no fresh injury concerns ahead of their trip to the Emirates with Rúben Dias, Nathan Aké, Rodri, and Jérémy Doku all still absent.

📸 Gareth Copley - 2025 Getty Images

📸 Carl Recine - 2025 Getty Images