*We’ll Suffer, But Will Beat Chelsea -PSG’s Enrique
Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City require a “perfect game” to overturn Real Madrid’s 3-0 lead in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie later today.
Only three teams have overturned a three-goal deficit in the knockout rounds of the Champions League: Deportivo La Coruña, when they defeated Milan 4-0 in the 2003-04 quarter‑finals to win 5-4 on aggregate; Roma, when beating Barcelona 3-0 in the 2017-18 quarter-finals to draw 4-4 on aggregate and progress on away goals; and Liverpool, when beating Barcelona 4–0 in the 2018-19 semi-finals to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Álvaro Arbeloa’s team are firm favourites to progress to the quarter-finals after their victory at the Bernabéu last week when Madrid’s captain, Federico Valverde, scored a first-half hat-trick.
Guardiola understands the challenge confronting his team.
‘Not Easy, But City Can Score Many Goals In Minutes’
“It has to be a perfect game in many senses and so we try and try,” he said. “It’s about the players, getting into perfect positions. We played with four or five strikers in the first leg and didn’t score a goal.
“Sometimes you play with two false 9s and score five goals. The idea is there – we have to try it. Not too much different things needed. We can create many chances in minutes.”
Guardiola referenced the 3-2 win against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021-22 season that clinched the Premier League title, City were 2‑0 down until the 76th minute when Ilkay Gündogan ignited a thrilling comeback.
“We made three goals in 14 minutes,” Guardiola said.
“In other comebacks we did incredible things, but we conceded or goal difference [was decisive], or we were out for decisions from referees. It has to be a perfect game in many departments to make these kind of things,” he added.
“The task is massive,” Guardiola said. “To score more than three goals against Madrid is not easy but we are here; it is a football game, everything can happen and we have to create as much momentum as possible with our people and do a good game and defend well. If we are able to be clinical and defend well, we will always be in the game.”
City may face a UEFA sanction after Guardiola decided not to train the squad yesterday, preferring to do so instead today afternoon in order to give his players an extended rest following the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday night.
UEFA rules state: “If a club does not hold a full training session on the day before the match, alternative arrangements must be made in agreement with UEFA to provide the media with access to a minimum of 15 minutes of the team’s preparation.”
“I prefer them to be at home,” Guardiola said in response. “We will arrive at 2 [pm on Tuesday], move a little on the legs and go. I did it two or three times this season.”
Rudiger Promises To ‘Chain’ Haaland Again
Real’s Antonio Rüdiger reminded Erling Haaland that he was one of the first defenders to shackle the City striker after joining the Spanish club in summer 2022.
The 33-year-old referred to the Champions League semi-final between the teams in May 2023. While City won 5-1 on aggregate, Haaland did not score.
“In my first season, they said no centre-back could beat him and I was one of them to keep up with him,” the 33-year-old said. “I find it fantastic to play against him. Seems a good guy and a better footballer. I faced him many times, he’s a world-class striker but a young man, very strong. I like these kind of duels.”
… Opens Up On Tough Guy Stance
Rüdiger’s uncompromising play was shown in Real’s 1-0 defeat by Getafe on 2 March. The German’s challenge on Diego Rico featured him kneeing Getafe’s left-back in the face.
Afterwards, Rico said: “It was an assault – you can see he was going to hit me on purpose. The ball came to me, and you can see him even push his teammate aside to smash my face in. If he’d caught me in a bad position, he could have left me lying on the grass.”
Rüdiger was asked about this. “You see the images, in slow motion it looks terrible – in the action itself and also what the player said, it was like I killed him. If I’d had the intention to do that he wouldn’t have stood up,” he said.
“It was never my intention to do it on purpose. I like to be tough on the pitch but I have boundaries – the boy exaggerated a bit. Maybe he needs to be the star at something. We see what happens in the world and you have to keep what you say low.”
Mbappe Available To Play
Kylian Mbappé is available after a knee injury but Jude Bellingham, who has travelled with Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad, is still recovering from a hamstring problem.
“He wanted to come with his teammates, he will continue in the training but won’t be in the side,” said Real’s head coach.
Enrique Warns PSG
Despite PSG’s three-goal lead heading into tonight’s Champions League round of 16 second leg against Chelsea, Luis Enrique has issued a warning to his players.
Enrique knows better than anyone that in the Champions League, a wounded team can always strike back.
“It’s clear we’ve only played the first leg—there’s still the second to go. The second leg is always different, because the other team will come out looking to turn things around.
“We’re ready, we’re used to these kinds of matches. What we’re focused on is performing at our very best. Confidence is one thing, but it’s something special. What I can say is that we can be better or worse.
“But what we’ve shown in every knockout tie is that we’re a tough team to play against, capable of taking on any top-level side,” he declared at the pre-match press conference, Monday.
Enrique then pointed to Aston Villa’s example in last season’s quarterfinals.
“That was a clear example of just how unpredictable football can be. We prepared for the match in Birmingham just like we’re preparing for Chelsea, with the intention to score, but there will be difficult moments to manage. That’s our objective: to win the match. There will be moments of suffering.
“There are four matches with this kind of three-goal margin—let’s see how many teams actually go through… Football is an incredible sport,” he said.
He concluded with these words: “It’s impossible to let your guard down in the Champions League. Chelsea have the quality to create chances. It’s impossible to relax. Please… In a Champions League match, it’s just not possible.
“Making the most of tough moments to change the momentum might be the key, but these are games you simply can’t control—it’s always hard to play. Very different from what we saw in the first leg.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Action from PSG vs Chelsea, first leg.
ALL THE MATCHES TODAY:
06:45pm: Sporting CP – Bodo/Glimt
09:00pm: Arsenal – Bayer Leverkusen
09:00pm: Chelsea – PSG
09:00pm: Manchester City – Real Madrid
