Madrid chief Florentino has to worry about making a good pitch, says Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called the 3-3 draw in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid "a good result" because he "thinks too highly" of 'Los Blancos' "to think" that they will play at the Santiago Bernabeu and "play fancy games".

"We take the draw well.  It's a good result. I have too good an opinion of Real Madrid to think that we're going to come here and play fancy games. The result leaves the tie open and we'll have to settle it at home," he told a press conference.

"It was an entertaining match. It dignified this competition. Both teams attacked. The quality of the players and the incredible goals that were scored... I liked the way we played in the second half. The transitions they make are very complicated and we controlled the game well, but it's Real Madrid and the Bernabeu is special. We took the result and in a week's time in Manchester our stadium will be full. We have to score a goal, keep doing our job and get to the semi-final," he said of the match.

"It's the Bernabeu, my dear friend. You're English, you don't know what it means to play at the Bernabeu. At the beginning we lost more balls than usual and they have legs and quality to make great transitions. In the second half we played with a lot of personality and to score three goals at the Santiago Bernabeu is very good," he continued.

"It's a process. This game in the first or second season would have been different, we weren't as emotionally stable; that's one of the keys in this game. If you want to come to the Bernabeu, play against Real Madrid in their competition and control the whole game... We have our idea, but it's impossible to control the game all the time," he added.

 

April 10, 2024

Pep Guardiola ruled out injury to Phil Foden, who was substituted at the end of the game, while also explaining Kevin De Bruyne's substitution. "I decided in the dressing room. In the hotel he was going to play, but he started to get sick, to vomit... he didn't feel well enough to play the game. Hopefully he can play next Wednesday.

The coach assured that he was surprised "that Vinicius played on the inside" while explaining his previous complaints, in statements to television rights holders, about the state of the Santiago Bernabeu pitch. "Florentino only has to worry about making a good pitch," he said.

"I haven't walked on it, but my players have told me so. Don't take it badly. The pitch is spectacular. The dressing room, everything... it's an impressive piece of work. Real Madrid have always had an incredible pitch, it was like a carpet. Today it wasn't like that, but I'm sure they'll fix it," he said.

Moreover, without wanting to name a favourite, he did recognise that the fact of playing the second leg in Manchester gives him comfort. "I'd rather play the second leg at home than at the Bernabeu, because of obvious experiences in the past. But to be favourites against Real Madrid... I don't know. The favourite will be the one who plays better. Of course, our fans will give us a hand for sure and it will be a good game," he said.