Man City vs Real Madrid Champions League Clash – What Ancelotti and Guardiola Say

By: Gyang Dakwo

Manchester City v Real Madrid is the heavyweight rivalry that has defined an era in the UEFA Champions League, as the two fabled sides – led by Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti – prepare to meet each other again in Europe’s elite competition.

The mouth-watering fixture on Tuesday (Today) is not the first time these two iconic clubs have faced off. The Spanish giants and reigning Premier League champions know each other incredibly well after several huge meeting

Both managers have admitted that the match is of huge significance and therefore must be taken with all seriousness.

“It feels like a Clásico now, because we’ve played them now for many years,” Ancelotti said in his pre-match news conference in Manchester on Monday. “I still think City are one of the best teams in Europe. City have the best coach [Pep Guardiola] in this competition. It’s one of the most difficult games you can have … And the same goes for us, we’re competitive, despite the emergency we face.”

Ancelotti said facing Guardiola’s City is “always a headache.”

“He’s a coach who always tries to bring something new to his team,” Ancelotti said. “He’s done a lot for football in terms of possession, pressing, playing out from the back. He’s an innovator. I have a lot of respect for him … It’s always a nightmare preparing for the game.”

Meanwhile Pep Guardiola has urged City to rise to the challenge and again show the side has ‘something special’ when we meet Real Madrid on Tuesday at the Etihad.

Addressing the media at Monday’s pre-match press conference, the boss voiced his faith and belief in the players who have helped bring so much success to the Etihad over the past few seasons.

“We are where we are, and I know perfectly but the team has something special and hopefully tomorrow we can prove it,” Guardiola declared.

“I will not deny how I trust with the players who gave us that incredible decade, winning a lot of things and playing a high standard, I know what we are capable of.

“To be honest it is always better to have a second leg at home in case you have extra time with your people.

“We play the second game away because we were not good in the group stage – when you finish 22nd you cannot ask for any favours.

In 2022, Madrid beat City 6-5 on aggregate in the Champions League semifinals — winning a dramatic second leg 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, all three goals coming in added time — while in the 2024 quarterfinals, a penalty shootout was needed to separate the teams.

Madrid went on to win the Champions League on both occasions, with City triumphing after eliminating Madrid in 2023.

Interestingly, Tuesday night’s first leg will be the 13th time these two iconic clubs have faced each other in the UEFA Champions League – and the seventh time in four seasons.