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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not overthinking Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg with Real Madrid despite his relatively unfavorable record at this stage. The Spaniard has bossed 10 UCL final four ties and only progressed on three occasions with two being his 2009 and 2011 successes with Barcelona the other being City’s 2021 heartbreak.
Guardiola, 52, is on the verge of leading the Premier League titleholders to their second Champions League final with the tie posed at 1-1 from the opening leg at Santiago Bernabeu. Kevin De Bruyne and Vinicius Junior traded stunning goals in Madrid and the Catalan tactician knows all too well that his record at this stage is a subject of heated debate.
“Of course, we are in the latter stages every season,” said Guardiola in Tuesday’s pre-game press conference when asked about favorites to advance. “I do not want luck tomorrow, the team who deserves to win, hopefully wins. It does not matter which one, hopefully it will be us. The players have to make an incredible performance to beat Madrid. I have an idea to be more different, more fluid in attack.
“It will happen naturally at home, we feel free, but it does not matter, we go. That is a feeling we have. Be ourselves, the rest I play 10 semi-finals for the CL, I lost seven. I know that feeling, there are many things you cannot control. Hopefully you can see tomorrow. I cannot tell you, otherwise Carlo (Ancelotti) will hear. I am not overthinking tomorrow, do not worry guys. Nothing different to the past, just to be more fluid and play a bit better.”
Regarding his legacy in Manchester, Guardiola is unfussed about the potential impact of another semifinal loss. The former Bayern Munich boss believes that regardless of what happens next, he has already left indelible mark on the sky blue side of the city.
“My legacy is already exceptional!” said Guardiola. “Here for many…
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