CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Pep Guardiola confident ahead of return leg at the Etihad Stadium
The Manchester City boss was happy with his side’s performance at the Santiago Bernabéu but will not underestimate Real Madrid.
Manchester City secured a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
The two sides met at the same stage last season and Madrid progressed after a sensational late comeback in the second leg. This time the fixture in Spain went more to City’s liking but head coach Pep Guardiola is under no illusions as to the scale of the job on their hands.
Speaking to BT Sport after the match, Guardiola described it as a “tight, tight game.”
“Semi-finals at the Bernabeu is always a difficult game,” the City boss said. “We had some good moments but sometimes it is difficult with the quality that they have with the ball.”
“It’s 1-1, and [it’ll be like] a final next Wednesday at home with our people,” he added.
Topsy-turvy game at the Bernabéu
At the end of play the former Barcelona boss seemed fairly happy with his side’s performance and was full of praise of Kevin De Bruyne’s equaliser.
City had the best of the early play in Madrid but went into the halftime break behind after a stunning goal from Vinicius Jr. The hosts improved in the second 45 but it was City who found the back of the net.
“When we were better they scored, and when they were better we scored,” Guardiola joked after the full time whistle.
“We started really well in the first half, and in the second half as well… They made a lot of passes and put a lot of players on the left side where they are really, really good.”
“But we made a great goal through Kevin [De Bruyne] and we had some moments. At the end they had some chances, it was a tight, tight game,” he added.
The game is perfectly poised ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium. But despite the second half fightback, Guardiola is fully away of the threat that Madrid pose in this completion.
“It was so demanding because they are so good,” he said. “They have the experience, the quality. But now we are going to travel to Manchester and see what we can do better.”
“There were both central defenders near to Erling [Haaland] so it was not for him but he moved well and he made some chances,” Guardiola added.