UCL: Man City’s Guardiola wary of vengeance seeking Madrid
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Real Madrid will be determined to get revenge after they thrashed the Spanish giants on their way to winning last season’s Champions League.
City beat Real 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
However, Guardiola has no doubt the 14-time winners will pose a tough test in this Tuesday night’s quarter-final first leg in Madrid at 8pm.
“It is very difficult for the same thing to happen again,” Guardiola said.
Beating Real Madrid twice in a row is impossible. They have learned and will want revenge. They have pride.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti wants his side to show more mental strength than they did when the two sides met last season.
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After a 1-1 draw in Madrid, Manchester City thrashed Real in the second leg 4-0. “We played without courage, without personality,” said Ancelotti. “Courage and personality are fundamental in this type of game, we lacked them in the second leg. The important thing is to be at our best, the mental aspect is very important.”
Manchester City have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the FA Cup game against Newcastle United and upcoming Premier League clash with leaders Arsenal.
No1 goalkeeper Ederson is facing a three to four week spell out with a thigh injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw with Premier League rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. It is a major blow to title-chasing City.
On Sunday, Nathan Ake’s under-hit pass back to Ederson was intercepted by Darwin Nunez inside the box. But with the City keeper already shaping to kick the ball, he couldn’t manage to adjust his feet in time, and Ederson followed through and cleaned out the Liverpool no.9.
It was a costly mistake, not just because Alexis Mac Allister converted the subsequent spot-kick, but the collision also saw Ederson pick up an injury that ultimately forced him to be replaced by Stefan Ortega in the 56th minute.
BBC Sport report: “City have assessed the extent of the damage and told the Brazilian FA that Ederson will not be fit for international duty.” City face Newcastle United this weekend in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday. City face Arsenal after the international break on March 31.
Asked about the injury during a post-match interview with beIN Sports, Man City boss Pep Guardiola grimaced and replied: “It doesn’t look good.” And now the keeper is facing up to four weeks out injured.
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Pep Guardiola insists Arsenal’s Premier League pursuit is ‘easy’
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has claimed Arsenal have it ‘easy’ in the Premier League title race ahead of their crunch meeting at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The title rivals meet in a potentially pivotal clash with only one point separating the two sides.
Arsenal travel to Manchester top of the Premier League table on goal difference from Liverpool, with Mikel Arteta’s side a point ahead of defending champions Man City.
Guardiola has ramped up the pressure on the Gunners and his former assistant Arteta by claiming they have it ‘easy’ in comparison to his side.
The Man City boss suggested Arsenal have something to prove and claims the Gunners benefit from ‘something special’ as they bid for a first Premier League title since 2004.
He insisted his side’s challenge if more difficult as Man City aim to remain on top and secure a record fourth successive league title.
‘To fight for one title that you haven’t won for many years is “wow, it is easy”,’ Guardiola said, as per the Guardian. ‘We have been here for many, many years – and we are still there.
‘I have said it a 1000 million times, the biggest success of this club is that after many years still we are there – and people cannot imagine how difficult it is.
‘We are the benchmark for the new generations in this club because (what we have done) is really really good. I could not expect, honestly, being here with the problems we had this season, being in this position right now.
‘Of course it is important what we have done before, but I didn’t expect to arrive where we are now. But after more than 20 years, Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League, so they will have something to prove and that’s normal.
‘When Liverpool won the title after many years, that gives you something special.’
Man City got the better of their title rivals last season, with Guardiola’s side reeling in Arsenal as they collapsed in the run-in.
The Gunners had been eight points clear of Man City but a run of only two wins in eight matches saw Arteta’s side eventually finish as runners-up.
Man City went on to secure a fifth title in six seasons as part of a famous Treble.
Arsenal got the better of Man City at the Emirates earlier this season with Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal earning a 1-0 win back in October.
Guardiola’s side will seek revenge at the Etihad as they bid for a first win over a top six side in the Premier League this season.
Man City will be without key defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones for the match after the paid were injured during friendlies for England in the international break.
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