A man in a dark jacket gestures with his hands while a soccer match unfolds in the background between players in red and white uniforms and others in white uniforms.
Pep Guardiola comments on his potential opponent in the Champions League round of 16 | Camara Real Madrid Confidencial
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Guardiola's Confession about Possible Clash with Real Madrid in the Champions

The Manchester City coach doesn't go unnoticed while waiting for the draw of this knockout round

by

Enrique Sanz

The end of the Champions League group stage has brought all kinds of arrangements and comments about the fate of the teams already qualified for the knockout rounds. Two of those currently in the spotlight are Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Because both teams did what they had to do and won their games against Stade Brestois and Club Brugge, respectively. These two clubs needed a victory to move forward in the top European competition. At the risk of facing each other in the round of 16.

Real Madrid players celebrating on the field in white uniforms.
Antonio Rüdiger and Rodrygo Goes celebrate a goal scored by the Brazilian | Real Madrid Confidencial

With only three matches won, the players coached by Pep Guardiola have worked a miracle and are now waiting for an opponent that could well be Real Madrid. This situation doesn't leave many people calm in the capital of Spain aware that the duels against the sky blue team are always intense and on the edge of everything. Guardiola also doesn't hide his reservations about the play-offs he must face.

Especially because their round of 16 is even more complicated than those assigned to the white club. Real Madrid could face Manchester City or Celtic of Glasgow, but the Mancunian team has as possible rivals the white club or Bayern Munich.

From bad to worse

Be that as it may, Pep Guardiola will have a tough knockout round ahead.  "We deserve it, if we can't do better... maybe we've been lucky", the former footballer states about his options for the Champions League round of 16.

"I don't know if they are happy to face us, but it is what it is", Pep Guardiola ventures. At the same time, he makes it clear that "there's no complaint about anything. We're going to face them", the Manchester City coach makes clear, aware of the ordeal his players have ahead.

A bald man with a beard covers his face with one hand in a gesture of frustration.
Pep Guardiola laments at Santiago Bernabéu | Real Madrid Confidencial

"One[Real Madrid]is the king of the competition and the other[Bayern Munich]is the second or third king of the competition. They have experience and play the return leg at home", the cityzen coach states. Far from complaining about his matchups, Guardiola wishes "to have the team back for this season". Because "we've played this competition with a million problems" in the physical department.

The situation seems to be much tighter than it appears:  "I told myself: reaching the last match against Brugge with the chance to win and qualify, I sign right now". Thus, Pep Guardiola knows that he can't escape a high-caliber knockout round if he wants to be in the Champions League round of 16.

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