Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained that he thinks that defensive discipline has been one of the keys to Real Madrid's success in recent years and expects to see them similar to them in their Champions League play-off. Last year Los Blancos held out a 1-1 draw before he gained punishment in the Champions League at Etihad, but both parties now look enormously different.
Guardiola still has to do with a number of injuries, but said that Real Madrid had dealt better with theirs this season. On Monday, new signature Nico Gonzalez trained normally, after being injured in the weekend.
“I know the game plan tomorrow, I know the way I want to play. I still have doubts about the line-up because we still have injuries and people who come back, but I am always optimistic and calm. “
The most important differences for Real Madrid are the loss of Toni Kroos and the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, which contributes to an already impressive front line. Guardiola said he would try to limit their stock.
“It is impossible in 90 minutes or 180 to control those players. Everyone knows them, I'm not going to say anything new. How they combine how they lose their husbands … they are exceptional players. We must try to reduce the time in which they come into contact with the ball. They have the opportunity to do everything, so we will try to impose our game and try to be intelligent in the first game. We will try to read the moment to get a good result for the Bernabeu. “
One of the current debates in the Spanish capital is either all Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes can co -exist without the ball. The Coach of Manchester City explained that they should against Atletico Madrid.
“In modern football, if they do not apply to themselves, it is much more difficult. It was seen against Atletico that they can sacrifice themselves for the team, the talent in Madrid has always been there. Last year they defended everything … and they didn't even let us get around here. They were very disciplined. I think it was the key for Real Madrid, and we have seen it in recent years, and we have not been so disciplined this year. “
Guardiola was asked by the Madrid -based press if he had the feeling that he was coaching for his work, and he renewed the spiky relationships with the same points of sale.
'No, I don't have that feeling. I don't know if they tell a doctor, an architect or a professor when their position is at stake. I know they sing to me on every ground, but I know I don't have my place at stake. After won so many years, we have achieved the honor, if that wasn't, I would probably not be here. Today I think so, but maybe they will throw me on the street tomorrow. Maybe that's what you [the media] Want, but I don't have that feeling. “
In the meantime, Ruben Dias was the player who set up City for the press conference, and he noted that he saw no rivalry between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, and also asked his teammates to act in the absence of Kyle Walker, who did it, who did, who Did Battle with Vinicius Junior in recent years.
“Last year was frustrating because we eventually dominated the entire game, but we couldn't score the goal. This is the competition, a team with another game makes things difficult for us. We have to control it more than ever, because that's how you win, it's our way, “Dias told Marca.
Dias did not buy the idea that the countless injuries of Real Madrid could sufficiently weaken them to give Manchester City a lead.
“The first mistake we can make is to relax and think that we can have this advantage. We must be at the necessary level without thinking about how the opponent is like. To reach our level, look for balance in the game and things come from there. We should not think that for whatever reason they are weak. '
Comments