Madrid, Spain – said Pep Guardiola Manchester City Players will make a “huge mistake” if they are motivated by revenge real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
City will face the defending European champions in the Spanish capital in the same leg where they were eliminated last season by two stoppage-time goals. rodrigo The English team’s 5–3 aggregate lead was canceled out to take the game into extra time.
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A Karim Benzema A penalty five minutes into extra time completed Madrid’s fightback and put them through to the final in Paris, where they lost. liverpool To lift the European Cup for a record 14th time.
But while the City midfielder rodri Said the tie would give him and his teammates “the option of revenge”, with manager Guardiola urging his players to focus only on the game rather than on the previous season.
“It would be a big mistake,” said Guardiola. “We are not here for revenge. What happened happened. It always happens in football because you deserve it.”
“We did more than everything to reach the final but sometimes it is not enough. The lesson we can learn is to get a good result, perform well and have the opportunity to reach the final in the second leg in Manchester “
“Last year was tough, but our first match in Manchester was exceptional and a really good game here. But it was not enough, you congratulate the opponent, accept it and now, a year later, we are here again. Are.”
“It’s just another chance. One day we’ll reach the final and win it. It didn’t happen last season because they [Madrid] Know what they have to do in this competition.”
City are the only club in the semi-finals AC Milan face city rivals inter Milan In the second round — never going to win the Champions League.
When the Abu Dhabi-owned team hired Guardiola in 2016, it was clear that the man who had won two Champions Leagues barcelona It was expected to deliver City’s first European Cup in 2009 and 2011.
In the seven years since his appointment, City have suffered only one final defeat – against Chelsea In 2021 — to show their huge investment in Guardiola and his team.
But Guardiola said he was under no illusions that the club’s owners were determined to win the Champions League.
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Guardiola said, “I would say that seven years ago we wanted to win and year after year, we definitely want it.” “It was the same last season and in the final against Chelsea.
“We are here again, but the most important thing is to be stable. Real Madrid, Liverpool, they are there all the time, but I am a fan of Barcelona and they spent a lot of time trying to win before they did it in 1992.
“So it is important to be stable and get better every season. We are the same players, same manager, but I felt it after the first time.” Premier League The title that was aimed at was the Champions League.
“It’s okay if you don’t have the trophy you want, but we’re going to make a good effort.
“Last year, we got out in the last few minutes. This is the margin to reach the final. We have to play till the last minute but that’s all, whatever you win doesn’t mean it won’t happen again .
“We have to do really well in the two matches, otherwise it will be really tough. We are ready to try again.”
