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| Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham |
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"What we need right now is a perfect game!"
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has vowed a dramatic turnaround ahead of the second round of the European Champions League playoff against Real Madrid.
Manchester City faced elimination after losing 2-3 to Real Madrid in the first round of the Champions League playoffs at home on the 12th (Korean time). Elling Holan scored multiple goals but lost 2-3 in the second half by giving up a theatrical goal to Jude Bellingham in extra time. We need a multi-goal win in Real's away game. It's literally a cliffhanger that needs to be won. Guardiola stressed that the team should perform at its best ahead of the second leg of the away game in Santiago Bernabeu, Spain, at 5 a.m. on the 20th.
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| Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola |
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Guardiola said, `We have to produce a nearly perfect game. We have to attack and score more goals because the result of the first game was not good." "There is always pressure in these games, but you have to welcome them. You need pressure to play better. It's not the first time I've done this. The question is how we play and how we deal with the situation,' he said, predicting that the results will vary depending on how we deal with important moments.
Manchester City has never missed the round of 16 in the European Champions League since the 2012-2013 season. He is the runner-up in the 2020-2021 season and the winning team in the 2022-2023 season. However, this season has been in a difficult situation, meeting Real Madrid from the playoffs. Fortunately, it is good news that the main players have recovered from their injuries.
Main player Elling Holan recently injured his knee against Newcastle but trained normally ahead of his trip to Real. Major players, including Jack Grealish, Hoobeng Dias and Nathan Ake, who missed the weekend's game, also returned from injury and accompanied the team on the road trip. Guardiola said "They all came together. We have to wait and see the condition, but just being together is good news."
Manchester City midfielder Bernardou Silva has admitted this season has been particularly difficult. "I never imagined that I would face Real Madrid in the playoffs, not in the second half of the European Champions League." You've created this situation yourself, and you have to accept it," he said, expressing his honest feelings. Fans around the world are paying attention to whether Manchester City can overcome the biggest crisis by playing 'Perfect Game' at the Bernabeu.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
