Guardiola: 'Real Madrid feels like a derby' | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says City’s Champions League play-off pairing with Real Madrid feels ‘like a derby’.

The Blues will face the Champions League holders for a fourth season in succession after the League Phase standings meant we would face either Real or Bayern Munich.

Now the La Liga giants have been confirmed as our two legged opponents in February, Guardiola says whoever we were going to face was going to be very tough.

“It looks like a derby already, four years in a row facing Madrid,” smiled Pep.

“Madrid or Bayern, both were really tough, hopefully we can arrive in the first leg here and the next one in Madrid as best as possible.”

Reflecting on a Titanic February fixture list that also includes games against Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle, the boss added: “We started [this run of games] in Paris, then afterwards Chelsea.

“So we are already there in terms of difficult games. The schedule is what it is.

“It always happens in the Premier League, always they put the toughest [fixtures] - always they are so kind with the calendar. Many years it happens that way.”

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After revealing there were no fresh injury concerns ahead of our trip to Arsenal, Pep was asked whether the demanding schedule could be eased for clubs competing in Europe’s elite club competition?

He replied to the journalist asking the question at the Friday press conference: “Are you asking me this question after many years here? I am not saying something impolite.

“You were here before me – it was always it is like this. It has always happened. We accept it. We are not complaining.

“We had amazing success dealing with this calendar. It’s always been like that, we accept it, I’m not complaining because we won the Treble!

“I said many times we play in the quarter-final against Madrid and three days later we play the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley when we could have had more days.

“It’s always been like that, but we survived. When I was in Barcelona, I followed the Premier League before I came here and Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, they made the same complaints.

“What I said before, the schedule we have in February we have had in previous seasons many times. Because we have been in all competitions, fighting for Premier League against tough opponents… it is not a surprise, it is what it is.

“We play good teams? Yes. When you win titles in the past it’s because we were always there and playing well.

“We have done it many, many times. When we were out of the Champions League and now we are in the Champions League. Could we be better? Yes.

“The draw could be nicer, yes. But who knows if you play Celtic and it is harder?

“Bayern was extremely difficult, and Madrid is extremely difficult, but we have done it in the past.

“We have built this schedule in many years. It is OK. If we complain, [get] another job, go to another country or don't be manager of Manchester City.

“For many years Sir Alex, Jose… it happened the same. We have done it. We never found the reason for that.”