Against Madrid, Guardiola: Man City Must Beat the Best

– Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, emphasized that his team must beat the best teams if they want to win the Champions League.

Manchester City will visit Real Madrid’s home stadium, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, Tuesday (9/5/2023) or early Wednesday starting at 02.00 WIB.

The Catalan coach was asked about City’s desire to win the Champions League and whether it’s a failure they haven’t done, as many have said.

However, he chose to focus on the importance of performing consistently at a high level, as Real Madrid did.

The Citizens have reached at least the quarter-finals in the last six years, but have only reached the final once, losing to Chelsea in 2021. Los Blancosmeanwhile, has won the competition five times in the last 10 years.

“One day we will reach the final and we will win it,” said Guardiola.

“I don’t want to win the Champions League and then go down and down. “Being stable is the most important thing as a club, Madrid is an example.”

Guardiola is obviously very aware of Real Madrid’s record in this competition and he admits that to be the best you have to beat the best.

In the Champions League, Madrid is the best and it will be a challenge for his team in the next 10 days.

“To win this competition you have to beat the best teams, and Madrid are the best team in this competition in the last decade,” said Guardiola.

Many say that this match will be an event for revenge for Man City, who was eliminated in the same phase last season by Real Madrid. But the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach denied this.

“Last season we did everything, more than everything to reach the final, but (in) football… it wasn’t enough.”

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