Pep Guardiola highlights the main problem of Man City in critical evaluation before Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola published a rallying cry to his Manchester City team, urging them to recover their dull season by beating Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Guardiola is perfectly aware that the next equality of the eliminations of City with Madrid is essential, potentially defining the most tumultuous season of his mandate as a 54 -year -old Spanish manager.

A victory would keep his hopes alive for a second title of the Champions League, while a defeat would leave them only the FA Cup and obtain a finish among the first four to face.

Guardiola openly admitted that City and Real have underperformed in Europe this year, which is why the last two champions years are now coming to determine who is progressing and who bows.

In the approach of what he recognizes as the most crucial match of the city season, Guardiola admitted the uncertainty of the version of his team will present itself until the game starts at the Etihad stadium tonight . “We were not consistent,” said Guardiola.

“What has defined the team in the last decade is that we have been an incredible machine every three days, otherwise we could not win six first -rate leagues in seven years or the incredible trophies that we won.

“We can lose because the opponents are good, but we have not been consistent. Of course, we can perform well here and of course we can perform well in Madrid, but before we can tell you that it will happen, I Don't know how we will react.

“You never know before the match what will happen, how they will react. But you always have a feeling with the players, that they are still there. Now we have a lot of injuries and that the players are a bit From top to bottom from top to bottom.

“We have conceded a lot of goals and we have always been a team that does not concede much. But at the same time, I will not deny this confidence with the players who have given us an incredible decade, playing the standard high I know that we are capable.

“Of course, it will be important if we can pass. We will always be in the competition and will play in the next round.

“We did not have enough points in the group phase, not even close. This is what we deserve. But our team has something special and I hope we can prove it.”

This is the fifth occasion in six seasons that City – currently in fifth place in the Premier League – faced Madrid in a direct elimination scenario of the Champions League, the two teams advancing twice at the expense of 'other.

Guardiola conceded that it was impossible to fully neutralize the formidable attack quartet of Real de Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Roddrygo, but said that the city can manage their threat and assert itself on the leaders of the LIGA.

Guardiola praised his opponents, declaring: “All four, they are exceptional”, and have recognized the need for a strategic approach: “Everyone knows it. We must therefore reduce their involvement as much as possible. Knowing that it will happen and accept it.

“At the same time, we will try to impose our game, to be involved as much as possible with the ball and to be intelligent, especially in the first step. It is important to read the tempo, because we must play well to Take a good result at the Bernabeu.

This article appeared for the first time on the mirror.