2026-03-17 11:41:17
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have to play the “perfect game” if they are to pull off a Champions League comeback against Real Madrid.
City must overturn a 3-0 deficit in the second leg of their last 16 tie on Tuesday (17.03.26) and the coach knows his must perform flawlessly if they are to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Guardiola said: “It has to be a perfect game in many, many departments.
“Our people, the referee decisions – for many, many things, it has to be so good to make these kinds of things.
“We have to take more risks in terms of trying, but even if the result is not good in the first half, we have to keep going, carry on, go, because you never know. You never know.”
City captain Bernardo Silva feels that a comeback is possible and urged City to summon the spirit of the memorable comeback from 2-0 against Aston Villa that sealed the Premier League title in 2022.
The midfielder said: “Four years ago we were losing 2-0 at home against Villa in the 70th minute. In 10 minutes, we scored three goals.
“I know that this might look a bit stupid what I’m about to say, but when I watched back [the first leg in Madrid], I didn’t see a reason for us to be losing 3-0 at halftime. The result was much worse than the performance in my opinion.
“Obviously in football that counts zero, that counts for nothing. In football a lot can happen, so we shouldn’t lose our heads. Stay in the game and try to create that atmosphere that everyone believes it is possible.”
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