Pep Guardiola desires Manchester Metropolis to “harm and punish” Actual Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg on the Santiago Bernabéu, with the hosts asking Uefa’s permission to shut the stadium roof to make sure as vocal an environment as potential.
Metropolis knocked Actual out of final yr’s semi-finals 5-1 on combination, which included a 4-0 hammering of Carlo Ancelotti’s crew within the second leg on the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola believes that regardless of the outcome Metropolis and Actual are at the same degree. On Tuesday evening he desires the holders to take the initiative.
“We can not come right here simply to regulate the sport, we have now to return right here to attempt to harm them, to punish them, to allow them to know we’re right here to attain the objectives,” he stated. “We’re speaking about Actual Madrid and their capacity to regulate many points of the sport. We now have to impose our sport with who we’re.
“They may be capable of press excessive, be so aggressive. If you are able to do progress [passing move], they’ll drop. However all people is aware of the strengths from transitions they’ve with Rodrygo, [Jude] Bellingham, [Federico] Valverde, Vinícius Júnior.”
Guardiola is assured Metropolis can retain the trophy. “We now have a way that we did it [last term] and if we did it as soon as we will do it once more,” the Catalan stated. “Being once more [at this stage] after what occurred final season right here within the quarter-final after making an unimaginable group stage, profitable all of the video games, and being right here is basically good for us.”
The Metropolis supervisor doesn’t see a repeat of final season’s simple victory. “It’s troublesome as a result of beating Actual Madrid two occasions in the identical manner is nearly inconceivable. Beating them as soon as on this competitors is troublesome, think about two in a row. They be taught, they’ve satisfaction, we have now to attempt to be sensible with the sport we play tomorrow and see what occurs within the second leg,” he stated.
In his first season at Actual, Jude Bellingham has scored 20 objectives, 4 of which got here in six group video games, together with six assists. Guardiola stated: “He performed when he was 17 with Dortmund [against us] after which I stated: ‘It’s not simply his expertise however the distinction is what he has in his mind and thoughts’. And he got here to this membership [Real] with distinctive gamers and a supervisor like Carlo.
“He’s had an unimaginable season when it comes to objectives, assists, his presence within the field. Not simply with Madrid however with the England nationwide crew he has been good. At simply 20, he has a protracted profession forward of him.”
Whereas Metropolis might be with out Kyle Walker and Nathan Aké on account of their respective thigh and calf accidents, Actual will be taught on Tuesday morning if Uefa will grant their want to shut the roof on the 85,000-capacity Bernabéu.
Rodri, who scored the winner for Metropolis in final season’s remaining, believes they are going to be calm. “If I ask one thing it’s that they play with serenity and composure, that we give the very best of ourselves,” he stated. “It offers you extra, composure, serenity [winning] the competitors.”