Pep Guardiola has admitted that he exaggerated Manchester City’s slim chances of progressing in the Champions League after their first-leg loss to Real Madrid. Initially claiming that City had only a “1%” chance of advancing, he has since backtracked, acknowledging that while the situation remains difficult, his team still has hope. Ahead of the decisive second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, Guardiola emphasized that City must produce an “almost perfect” performance to stand a chance. At the very least, he insisted, they must “give them a fright.”
Discussing the high-stakes encounter, Guardiola reflected on the pressure his team faces. He noted that intense situations like this are part of football at the highest level, comparing the Bernabéu’s atmosphere to visits to Barcelona, Anfield, or Arsenal. He embraced the challenge, stating that top teams must thrive under pressure to succeed. “You cannot perform well without pressure,” he said. “What I have learned from previous visits is that you have to play with courage, you have to be yourself. You must have that mentality and play to win.”
The City manager has a history of success at the Bernabéu from his time with Barcelona, famously guiding his team to a 6-2 victory in La Liga and a Champions League semi-final triumph in 2011. However, in this tie, his team faces an uphill battle after losing 3-2 at home in the first leg. Guardiola’s previous comments about their chances being nearly nonexistent were met with skepticism, particularly from his counterpart Carlo Ancelotti, who dismissed the notion that Madrid held a 99% chance of progressing. Ancelotti even suggested he would ask Guardiola directly whether he truly believed City’s hopes were so slim.
A week after making those remarks, Guardiola has admitted that his outlook has changed. He acknowledged that his initial comments were made in frustration after the defeat, when it felt as though City’s chances were minimal. “I lied to you, and you didn’t believe me,” he admitted. “I said that because we were out and nobody would have bet a penny on us. But as the days pass, the enthusiasm returns.”
Despite the challenging circumstances, he remains determined to push his team forward. “We will try to go through,” he declared. “Carlo won’t need to say anything to me pre-game. We have to fix certain things, but we will attack and at least try to give them a fright—then see what happens.”
The second leg promises to be a high-intensity battle, with City needing a victory to keep their Champions League hopes alive. While Guardiola acknowledges the difficulty of the task ahead, his team is preparing to fight until the final whistle.
