Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are under pressure ahead of the Champions League hit at Real Madrid. The season could only be saved by a success in the premier class. In addition, it is probably the last chance to win the coveted European title for the time being.
Manchester (dpa) - Was that a deliberate provocation against UEFA? Or just plain flakiness?
Before the possibly last away trip with Manchester City in the premier class - of all places to Madrid, which he disliked - Pep Guardiola downplayed the importance. His team will try everything to beat Real Madrid, the star coach said before the first knockout round in Spain on Wednesday (8:45 pm / Sky). "If we succeed, we will be very happy. If not, then next season." Then Guardiola smiled and noticed his mistake. "I don't know next season, but if we can play again, we'll come back."
Due to "serious violations" of the rules of financial fair play, UEFA excluded the Abu Dhabi-sponsored club from the European Cup for two years. Bitter for Man City, because the title in the premier class is at the top of the wish list for the club bosses. They do want to contest the UEFA ruling before the CAS International Sports Court. However, it seems questionable whether this will be successful and will also succeed in time to take part in the upcoming Champions League season.
This increases the pressure on Guardiola to finally win the competition this year. However, the former Bayern coach recently failed ten times in a row with his teams in the quarter or semi-finals. And with the 13-time winner Real, City has already got a difficult lot in the round of 16.
That was "a real test," said Guardiola before the first leg at the Bernabeu stadium. But to become "king of the competition", one has to prevail against Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. "You have to beat the big clubs," emphasized the city coach and title collector. "So we'll try that."
For Guardiola, who won the Champions League in 2009 and 2011 as the coach of FC Barcelona, the premier class is also the last chance to make a season so far messed up. In the Premier League, England's champions have long been left behind, with an incredible 22 points behind leaders Liverpool. Nobody speaks of the title defense in Manchester anymore. A triumph in the final on May 30th in Istanbul could make that forget.
However, the way to Istanbul is only via Madrid, and the balance speaks for the team of coach Zinedine Zidane. In four direct duels against City, the royal win two and two draws. The newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" gives the Guardiola team a little hope and reminds them that Madrid have won only three of the last nine Champions League games at home. "A pretty daunting record," the paper said.
An interview with the Spanish newspaper "AS" meanwhile caused a stir at Man City. The crowd favorite Raheem Sterling, whose use is still questionable due to injury, raved about Madrid. "When you see the white jersey, you know exactly what the club stands for, that's huge," he said. Sterling avoided a commitment to City. "Nobody knows what the future will bring." Especially not at Manchester City.
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