Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has downplayed his team's chances of securing the Champions League title, stating they are not yet prepared. Despite a 2-1 comeback victory over Real Madrid, Guardiola insists City still have improvements to make. "We are not ready. We are away," he told TNT Sports. "In February, we will be better. " This win places City fourth in the 36-team standings.
City's victory came after Rodrygo initially put Madrid ahead at Santiago Bernabeu. However, goals from Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland turned the game around before half-time. After the break, City effectively contained Madrid, preventing any further shots on target. Guardiola remains cautious about their status as tournament favourites despite this performance.
Haaland's contribution was crucial as he scored the winning goal from a penalty after being fouled by Antonio Rudiger. The 25-year-old has now amassed 55 Champions League goals and scored 51 times in his first 50 starts in the competition. Guardiola praised Haaland's impressive record but emphasised the need for him to be more involved in games.
Reflecting on the match, Haaland acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Santiago Bernabeu. "Difficult to come here, it's a tough place," he said to TNT Sports. He described the game as chaotic and expressed his enjoyment of playing in such high-stakes matches under the new Champions League format that offers more games.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe was absent due to a muscular injury, which meant he did not feature even from the bench. Haaland noted that while facing top players like Mbappe is desirable, his absence provided a psychological advantage for City. "You don't want anyone to be injured but we expected him to play," Haaland remarked.
Statistical Insights
According to Opta's supercomputer, Manchester City currently holds a 10.3% probability of clinching their second European title. City's recent win marked their first away victory in the Champions League after trailing since April 2021 against Paris Saint-Germain.
Since the start of last season, Real Madrid have now lost five of their league phase games in the UEFA Champions League. That's as many as they lost in the group stage of the competition from 2019-20 to 2023-24 combined.
Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst)
Guardiola highlighted that several players experienced playing at Santiago Bernabeu for the first time and expressed satisfaction with securing points there. He stressed that finishing in the top eight remains City's primary goal.
As Manchester City continues its journey in this season's Champions League, Guardiola's focus remains on improvement and readiness for future challenges. The team aims to build on their current momentum while addressing areas needing enhancement before February arrives.
