Pep Guardiola, head coach of Premier League side, Manchester City, said, his side have to stay “focused” on defeating Spanish La Liga side, Real Madrid, on Tuesday night.
At his pre-match presser, the Spaniard said, the Cityzens “have to focus and try to firstly win the game”.
Guardiola’s Manchester City got seriously thrashed by Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid by three (3) goals to zero (0) at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid City, Spain last Wednesday; all three (3) goals were netted by Federico Valverde, his first career hat-trick.
Portuguese right winger, Bernardo Silva, described City’s defeat in Spain as “really bad”, however, expressed optimism that his side can still turn things around positively against their Spanish visitors.
Silva believes, “a lot of things can happen” when both sides clash at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England on Tuesday 17 March, 2026 in the Uefa Champions League 2025/26 round of 16 second leg match at 21:00 (WAT).
According to Manchester City’s official X account, at his pre-Real Madrid press conference, Guardiola said: “It’s a football game and many things can happen. We have to focus and try to firstly win the game and then after see what happens.
“We have to create a good game with our people, hopefully they can make an extra bonus, and we will try.
“After 10 years, if I have to convince the players about belief then we are in trouble, they know me quite well. I am pretty sure they will try.”
Silva, who was at the pre-match presser with the former Barcelona manager, said: “A lot of things can happen in a football game even though the result in Madrid was really bad, we will fight until the end.”
On Saturday 14 March, 2027, Manchester City were unable to beat West Ham United in the Premier League match as the game finished 1-1 at London Stadium.
Currently, Manchester City are 2nd on the table with sixty-one (61) points, trailing toppers, Arsenal, by nine (9) points.
