CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
What Pep Guardiola had to say after Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final win over Bayern; Real Madrid semi-final awaits
The coach of the English team spoke to the press after City ran out 4-1 winners over two legs.
Manchester City’s first leg win over Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium was too much of a hill to climb for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who went out 4-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. A missed penalty for Erling Haaland only gave him more fury to smack a subsequent shot into the back of the net in Germany and all but end hopes of what would always have needed to be a colossal comeback.
After the game, Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, spoke to the press about the tie, as well as talking about Erling Haaland’s extraordinary capacity to score goals. He mentioned coming up against Madrid, playing in a potential final again, and perhaps being able to break his European trophy drought.
On winning the Champions League: I think all the clubs in the world have the feeling if you want to win this competition you have to beat Real Madrid. It used to be Barcelona but now it’s Madrid.”
On getting to the semi-finals: “I’m so happy to be three years in a row in the Champions League semi-finals. The result, the 4-1 doesn’t show what was in the two games, from my point of view. I know how good they are, the physicality and ideas, - I’m always impressed. I was impressed when I was with them and against them. In this competition it’s the details. We were incredibly solid, we defended well in the box, this is what we improved the most. Upamecano, Pavard, Kimmich, we had problems and closed that side. In the second half since minute one we felt we had more control. Thank you to our fans.
On how the team has improved in terms of attitude: A lot. You have to know where you come from. We come from two Premier Leagues, finals and semi-finals. The players say ‘we have time’ but we don’t. Arsenal and other teams are there. When the time arrives, two months or so left until the end of the season, the players know. We are going to do everything we can, that’s the change, it’s a question of time. But in the Premier League, if you don’t do it every day, it’s difficult.
On Bayern: I know this stadium, how they push, how they press. We struggled to make combinations today with the ball. I don’t believe now, I don’t feel better than Bayern, like last season I didn’t think we were worse than Madrid. This game is a coin (flip). You can be out on a penalty. I don’t take credit to get to the semi-final or final, because many things are involved.
On Haaland’s goal-scoring abilities: Erling is a threat, we know that. His finish was very good. He is very young.
About Real Madrid’s video in response to Laporta’s claims: When I play against Madrid you can ask me these questions, not at the moment. 11 semi-finals in 13 years, hats off.
