Pep Guardiola is hoping his Manchester City side can prove they are still something special. When they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday night.
The two sides have met in the ‘Big Ears’ for the fourth successive season. But this time they are due to go head-to-head in the early rounds of the competition following the league phase.
City narrowly escaped their final game against Club Brugge to finish 22nd out of 24 teams, เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา while Madrid finished 22nd.
“When you finish 22nd (out of 24) you cannot ask for an advantage. You cannot ask for something you have not won,” Guardiola said. “
Madrid boast a stacked attacking line-up which includes Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe, and Guardiola admits there is only so much his side can do to deal with them.
“It’s impossible in 90/120/200 minutes to control these players,” he said.
“They are exceptional – how they combine, the runners, the ability one against one, how they keep the ball, all four are exceptional.
I have always believed in football – normally you deserve it and we didn’t deserve it (automatic qualification). “
I will not deny the trust I have in the players who have given us a great decade. All of us, we have won a lot together and played at a high standard. I know what we are capable of. “
The team has something special and hopefully tomorrow we can prove it.”