Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola commended his team’s resilience and determination after they staged a comeback to clinch a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid during their Champions League match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
The match began with a shaky performance from City, who struggled to contain Real Madrid’s aggressive offense. After an early goal from Rodrygo put the home side ahead, it was Nico O’Reilly’s equalizer and Erling Haaland’s penalty that turned the tide, providing City with three crucial points in the group stage.
Guardiola openly recognized that his side was not at their best in the early part of the match. “We’ve been here several times and played much better than today without winning,” he remarked, reflecting on past encounters at the Bernabeu. “In the first 25 minutes, they were much better than us. I will take the result, but I know we need to improve.”
Following their equalizer, City appeared more composed, with players like Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden creating significant issues for Real Madrid’s defense in the second half. Guardiola particularly highlighted Doku’s contribution during the match, acknowledging the threats posed by Real’s Vinicius Jr throughout the game.
The manager expressed his gratitude towards the players, saying, “I have to be so grateful to the players. I’m happy. This is a good experience for us, especially for many new players who are here for the first time at such a challenging venue.”
With this victory, Manchester City now sits fourth in their group standings with 13 points. Guardiola is optimistic that this display of resilience will carry over into the final two matches of the league phase, aiming for a top-eight finish and direct qualification to the knockout stage of the tournament.