The 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 does not seem to have dented the morale of Pep Guardiola in the slightest.
On the contrary, the Manchester City manager was defiant ahead of his side’s Premier League trip to West Ham. “Not many dollars have been bet from the bank that we will come back, so we’ll see on Tuesday,” he said as an ‘appetizer’.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach also addressed the numerous criticisms he has received for his (ultra-offensive) approach at the Santiago Bernabeu: “I always think about what is best for the team”.
“I have lost many times in the knockout stages of the Champions League, many, many times. I have been slaughtered for refereeing decisions and for what happened. It’s not the first time. Even so, I’m still here, in this position, until the last day. I can discuss the decision on the line-up, but I’m not going to convince you because we lost. If the discussion had been before, I would understand,” said Guardiola.
I have been slaughtered by refereeing decisions and by what happened. It’s not the first time. Even so, I’m still here, in this position
Far from changing, the City coach insisted on the same reflection he made at the end of the first leg: “I have an opinion about the game in Madrid, and it is not going to change. We did things very, very well,” he said. “And in the others, we could have done better, yes, of course…”
In fact, he went further and called the approach “outstanding”: “The first 19 or 20 minutes, before the first goal, were outstanding, some of the best we’ve played at the Bernabeu in terms of ‘We’re here to cause trouble’. We were a threat! But then, emotions came into it.
The first 20 minutes, before the 1-0, were exceptional, some of the best we’ve played at the Bernabeu in terms of ‘we’re here to create danger
Guardiola even fuelled the controversy over the penalty that Donnarumma conceded on Vinicius and which the Italian goalkeeper ended up saving from the Brazilian winger. “Gigio touches the ball. It’s not a penalty,” he said
Donnarumma touches the ball. No penalty on Vinicius
“West Ham. Now it’s West Ham. After that we will have time to think about Real Madrid,” warned Guardiola before the press conference began. It had no effect.
He did have time, however, to clarify that Erling Haaland is fit to face the Hammers and to stress the importance of the match for City’s chances, second in the table, seven points behind Arsenal, although with a game in hand, of clinging on to the Premier League title.
“There are no second chances anymore. We are also desperate to take all three points,” reiterated Guardiola.
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