Guardiola crunches the numbers: “Madrid have won 15 European titles, but played 100... is that failure?”

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have the daunting task of overturning a three-goal deficit to have any chance of remaining in this edition of the Champions League. Only teams have managed such a feat as the home side in the return leg (Deportivo, Barcelona and Liverpool).

If that wasn’t a tall enough order - they will be up against the undisputed dons of this competition, Real Madrid. But the City manager knows that nothing is impossible and is hopeful of a turnaround at the Etihad on Tuesday evening. He joined Bernardo Silva in the hotseat for the pre-match press conference.

Where would a heroic come back against Real Madrid rank among all of your achievements as a coach?

“No idea. In the Round of 16? No idea. I don’t know. In a football game, many things can happen. You have to focus on first trying to win the game and then afterwards, we’ll see what happens during the game. I don’t have a specific plan - just try.”

Whether the players believes they can eliminate Real Madrid

“After 10 years, if I have to convince my players about beliefs we are in trouble. They know me quite well and every single game we try and this will not be an exception. I’m pretty sure they will try. Most of them are new, they don’t have experience in that situation. We are not the same group but it an incredible opportunity to try.”

Training session canceled on the eve of the match

“We’ll train tomorrow ahead of the game.”

Team’s mental strength

“It’s related. The way you play as much as you play good the mentality will be strong and if you don’t play good you will be weaker. I’m not much concerned about the chances we are going to create, we are always able to do it at home. It’s more about how we are going to defend. The match is massive - to score more than three goals against Madrid is not easy but we are here, it is a football game, everything can happen and we have to create as much momentum as possible with our people and do a good game and defend well.”

The “perfect game” perhaps some tactical surprises...

“Yeah, definitely. We aren’t looking to surprise Madrid. It’s about the players, getting into perfect positions. We played with four or five strikers in the first leg and didn’t score a goal. Sometimes you play with two false nines and score five goals. The idea is there - we have to try it. Not much different things, just when we arrive there, try to score and defend better the positions. A perfect game in many sense and try and try. We can create chances in minutes. We know each other. If we are able to be clinical and defend well, we will always be in the game.”

Comebacks and managing goals

“In many games here, against Tottenham or Madrid, it’s not about the goals scored but they scored three or four. The problem is not about creating chances here, even in the short times in 10 or 15 minutes, we are able to be there many times, knowing that the quality of them is different to any opponent. They do not give the ball away, they are able to win, the quality is there. It’s easy for me to say that we have to score three goals in the first 20 minutes but the reality is completely different. We have to be sustainable in our approach, we will talk tomorrow about what we have to do. The result in the first leg is not the best one....

Aston Villa, last game to win the Premier League. 70 minutes 0-2 and we made three goals in 12 minutes. in other comebacks, we did incredible things but conceded or goal difference we were out or decisions from referees. It has to be a perfect game in many departments to make these kind of things but I always have good memories of defeats. The Tottenham game was painful but it always remains in my pocket.”

Managing rest and training

“We were in Madrid, travel here, day after here no training, go to London, arrive yesterday at 2:30 a.m. today you cannot do anything because the players who played are still at home and tomorrow we train. We will not have to train something but repetition for the training will take us to Real Madrid. The train won’t improve a lot so we don’t have time to train. I prefer them to be at home. We will arrive at 2, move a little on the legs and go. I did it two or three times this season.”

Defensive solidity

“Well if you play the game against West Ham we defend really well. It is not easy because the quality of Madrid is there, we have to work hard. From my experience in the Champions League, we have always been able to create chances.”

Dias or Khusanov?

“The selection I have already more or less. I know the team that is going to start tomorrow. I don’t have any doubts. One doubt maybe but the rest is clear.”

First‑half analysis

“There were moments like conceding four goals in Fulham and Madrid shoot three times and three goals but in general I’m satisfied for many things, it has always been there. I have had the opinion for many months, we just missed the chances that we created. When you create, you have to create more opportunities and just put the ball in the net.”

Facing Real Madrid

“I am not missing anything from the games we have played Real, my record is not bad as a player or manager. I am doing it for a team I represent now. The meetings we have won’t change anything.”

Player Rest

“I will find out tomorrow and train then, it is very simple. Three days difference is a long trip you have to go by train or plane. Players will be with their families. They will send WhatsApp messages to each other I am sure.”

Plan for Mbappé

“We will see after five minutes if Mbappé is back, it is better for them. We will see if he plays or not.”

Pre‑match motivational speech

“Not really much more left to say. It is a perfect game to turn around. There are very few messages now, I do feel, I know we will give it a go. Whether we can achieve it, I have no idea.”

Handling failure in sport

“Important thing is you don’t believe it is a failure. In sport, you can do things well and try and get better and try the following season. It comes from hard work dedication, love your sport and there is no team in the world who win always. There are occasions when you can be extraordinary. We have had some great games against you guys. You lose more than you win in sport, how long do you spend thinking about it? There is a lot more important things happening in the world than think about that. Real have won 15 but played 100, is that a failure? They have lost more than they won. Maybe you ask me this because I am from Barça.

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