Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City that he must be more ruthless to reach the Champions League final after winning 4-3 against Real Madrid in the first semi-final match at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Although Guardiola’s side will take a slight lead over Santiago Bernabeu for next Wednesday’s rematch, he is aware that the draw is far from over after rejecting a series of chances after a 2-0 lead, with Karin Benzema scoring twice. from both sides. brilliant individual goal by Vinicius Junior.
Guardiola said: “Regardless of the result, if it was 2-0 or 3-0, we will still have to go to the Bernabeu and play well. If we play like in the second half, we will not be able to win. If we play like in other periods, we will do it. We want to be there to do a good show, that’s what I want to tell my players to do – don’t think about anything else.
“When I became a footballer and a manager, when you go to the Bernabeu, you have to present yourself as yourself or there is no option to win. You have to go through these situations to win the Champions League. “
Guardiola was visibly upset during the match by his team’s extravagance. “We miss them, but we create them,” he said. “We were there all the time. No complaints about the result, the performance, nothing. I am so proud of the way we present ourselves to the world. We did everything to win and brave – with the ball, without the ball.
“Football is football, the result is the result, but how we present ourselves is exceptional. No one can say that the performance was not good. We know we may have to raise the level to get to the final, but this race requires it. In the end, maybe the chances we create should be transformed.
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“I want to convince my players that we have won the match and that we are standing up. There were two of us, but even two, three or four you have to do. They have the ability to score three goals in 10 minutes. This is a good test for ourselves.
“We played a fantastic match against an amazing team. The moments when they get up and back in the game in the first half, I think we gave them because our accumulation was so nervous. We are usually so safe and so good. In addition, they press really well and hard. We are so proud of Manchester City all over the world. But it’s about reaching the final and sometimes football happens. We are going to Madrid to try to win the match. “
Carlo Ancelotti has said that if his team defends better in Spain, they will advance to the final against Liverpool or Villarreal. Guardiola smiled when asked about it. “I always agree with Carlo,” he said.
The head coach of Real noted an optimistic note despite the deficit. “It simply came to our notice then. We were too soft and conceded two goals, “said the Italian. “From there, the team showed what it has shown in recent periods. We reacted well and were in the game.
“It is clear that we need to defend ourselves better. We were good with the ball, we made chances and in the matches from end to end you have to defend better. This is really important.
“This is a defeat that leaves us alive at the Bernabeu in the return match. We need to be better on defense and we believe we can create problems for them in the return match. “
Benzema’s two goals included a cheeky penalty in the style of a young lady after missing three points earlier in the month. France № 9 said: “I always have in mind that if you don’t take a penalty, you will never miss a penalty. It’s mental confidence and that’s it. I have a lot of confidence in myself. “
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