Champions League: It’s impossible to control them for 180 minutes they are an attacking firepower – Guardiola
Guardiola is aware of the threat posed by Madrid’s attack. AFP
Guardiola is aware of the threat posed by Madrid’s attack. AFP
Immersed in serious doubts since Rodri’s injury a few months ago, out of the race for the Premier League title and after a League Phase that they overcame at the last minute, Manchester City are playing for a large part of their season in this playoff against Real Madrid prior to the last 16.
In the run-up to the first leg of what has become a European classic in the last decade, the Sky Blues coach Pep Guardiola appeared before the media to analyse in detail everything that awaits his side in the clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 11th February.
Facing Real Madrid after the team’s poor Liga Phase
“Real Madrid are always a very difficult opponent. We didn’t do well during the first phase of this Champions League and we deserve to be in this situation. It will be a challenge for us”.
Rivalry with ‘Los Blancos’ since his arrival at the Etihad
“City-Madrid has become a great duel in recent years. We’ve gone through a few times, a few times they’ve knocked us out…. We’ve been in the thick of it over the years and it’s become a classic over the last decade, but historically we can’t compare ourselves to teams like Barcelona, Milan or Bayern”.
Injuries to both teams and Madrid’s competitiveness
“We have had problems with injuries this season. Both teams. Madrid have dealt with them better, as they are leading La Liga against one of the best versions of Barcelona in recent times. Madrid always compete well on every stage and we will need to be at a high level to go through.”
Lack of consistency
“We have not been consistent this season. We are capable of winning tomorrow or at the Bernabeu, but we concede a lot and we haven’t been consistent. Despite that, I have confidence in my players. They have performed at a high level over the years. I hope we’ll all be at our best against Madrid”.
Mbappe and Madrid’s attacking front
“You can’t control Mbappe for 180 minutes. Neither him nor the rest of the four (Vinicius, Rodrygo and Bellingham). They are exceptional, we all know that. We will try to reduce their involvement in the game. They are very skilful, they combine very well. They’ll do that against us, but we’ll try to impose our game, be smart and get a good result for the second leg at the Bernabeu.”
Last year’s UCL exit
“In the quarter-finals of the last Champions League we played well. This year we have the second leg away because we didn’t do things right and we didn’t get the points we needed. We could have played Madrid or Bayern. It was our fault, so we will have to do well tomorrow. I’m convinced that this team has something special and I hope we can prove it tomorrow”.
Possible starting eleven of the rival
“At Madrid I look at everything. I don’t know if Valverde will play at full-back or if Carlo (Ancelotti) will invent something. The front four are very talented, everyone knows that. Let’s see if we can cause them problems. It will depend on how we are”.
Pep Guardiola is absolutely right—it’s nearly impossible to contain a team with immense attacking firepower for a full 180 minutes across two legs. In the Champions League, where the best teams in the world compete, even the most disciplined defenses can struggle to keep elite attacking players quiet for an entire match, let alone two.
He might be referring to a specific opponent, like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or PSG—teams that boast world-class forwards capable of turning a game in an instant. Even Guardiola’s Manchester City, despite their defensive strength, have had trouble completely shutting down top-tier opposition.
It’s a reminder that in the Champions League, moments of brilliance often decide games. Do you think City can handle the challenge this season?
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