Pep Guardiola has emphasized the importance of his Manchester City players taking advantage of every opportunity to ‘punish’ Real Madrid in the upcoming tough quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu. City, aiming for back-to-back Champions League and treble triumphs, seeks to recreate last season’s success when they defeated Real Madrid 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium, ultimately securing a 5-1 aggregate win in the semi-finals and going on to triumph over Inter Milan in the final. In response to Real Madrid boss Ancelotti’s comment that his team played with ‘no personality’ at the Etihad, Guardiola defended his team’s performance, acknowledging the talents and unpredictability of the game.
However, he maintains his admiration for Ancelotti, recognizing his managerial success. With key players like Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake injured, and doubts surrounding Josko Gvardiol’s availability for the game, Guardiola remains confident in his team’s capabilities. He urges his players to approach the contest with confidence, focusing on inflicting damage and putting pressure on the 14-time European champions.
Looking ahead, if City prevails against Real Madrid, they will face either Bayern Munich or Premier League rivals Arsenal in the semi-finals, with the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.