Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his player’s character after drawing with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid and Manchester City Champions League quarterfinal clash ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw in Madrid on Tuesday night. The return leg will be in Manchester next Wednesday.
Man City took the lead after just two minutes through Bernardo Silva, but Real came back thanks to a Ruben Dias own goal and Rodrygo strike. City once again took the lead after Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol scored two stunning goals in the second half. Real Madrid avoided the defeat thanks to Federico Valverde’s wonderful volley late in the game.
According to the official UEFA website, Guardiola told reporters: “I think it was really good. Two teams that want to attack. The quality of the goals was fantastic.
“What I liked most is how we played in the second half. We were 2-1 down, playing here without much composure.
“They are so dangerous on transitions and could score more goals but we controlled the game really well.
“This game, in the first three seasons together, we’d have lost 4-1 or 5-1 as we were not stable emotionally.
“You need time to learn and now we are more stable and hopefully in the future we can do better and better.
“We went 2-3 but here it is never over. It’s Madrid, it’s special. We take the result and in one week in Manchester, with our people, it will be sold out and they will help us.”
Man City boss also believes they can eliminate Real Madrid and qualify for the semi-finals in the return fixture after drawing at the Bernabeu.
Guardiola also told TNT Sports channel: “We started well, but it’s so difficult against Madrid because they defend really well and the pace they have up front is unbelievable, so you always concede transitions and it’s impossible to control it.
“We were a little bit anxious with the ball in the first half. and after we went 2-1 down, we lost a lot of balls that players normally don’t lose. And when it’s happening, it’s so difficult to avoid it. But in the second half we showed our incredible personality in the way we play.“
“We were playing with a lot of composure. much better than in the first half and we scored two fantastic goals. But in the end, after 76, 77 minutes in this stadium, it’s an eternity. We knew it and we take a draw. Now we have to win a game to qualify for semi-finals.”
