Man City must ‘raise their level’ to beat Real Madrid and reach UCL final – Pep Guardiola
Man City must ‘raise their level’ to beat Real Madrid and reach the champions league final, Pep Guardiola has now admitted.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City would have to “raise their level” if they are to reach a second consecutive Champions League final, but he refused to criticize his players after they squandered a succession of chances in their 4-3 victory over Real Madrid.
City will travel to the Bernabeu with an advantage, but it could have been more comfortable if the hosts had been more clinical in front of goal.
Also read,
Manchester City Joins Race For Declan Rice
Man City must ‘raise their level’
Guardiola says his team will head to Spain trying to win the second leg and set up a final in Paris against either Liverpool or Villarreal but insists it will be a tough task.
“It was a good game with both teams with an incredible amount of quality,” said Guardiola.
“The result could be better. You have to perform really well in two games. We performed really well in the first one and we have to do it in the second one. It is a good test to show our personality.
“We miss them [the chances] but we create them. We were there all the time. We were there. No complaints about the result, the performance, anything.
“I am so proud of the way we perform in front of the world. We did everything to win.”
Pep Guardiola reacts during Man City’s 4-3 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
City led 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 and despite having a number of opportunities to widen their advantage, were pegged back three times by Real Madrid.
Afterward, manager Carlo Ancelotti criticised the way his team defended but said that if the issue is rectified in time for the second leg, the Spanish giants will go through.
“My feeling is that we started really poorly in the game, we were too soft, we let in two goals and from there the team showed what they have showed in the last periods,” said Ancelotti.
“It is quite simple to define this game; we did well with the ball, without the ball we need to be much better.
“In the second game I think if we defend better we will win, but if we defend like today we will be out of the competition.”
Also read,
Man City vs Real: City faces ‘incredible test’ as three key defenders in doubt for semifinal clash
Man City signing ‘disrespectful’ player, claims Hamann
Follow us