da stake casino： Pep Guardiola hailed Real Madrid as the Champions League "kings" after Manchester City were drawn against the Spanish giants in the competition.
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City to lock horns with Madrid in the last eightWill meet Los Blancos for the third year in a rowGuardiola 'not paying much attention' to one opponentGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The quarter-final tie marks the third consecutive season in which City and Real Madrid will cross paths in Europe's premier club competition. Last year, City emerged triumphant over the 14-time winners, securing a resounding 5-1 victory on aggregate in the semi-final en route to their maiden European triumph. Despite City's commendable form in Europe this campaign, Guardiola remains cautious about Madrid's prowess on the European stage and expects a demanding two-legged contest.
AdvertisementWHAT GUARDIOLA SAID
Speaking to reporters, Guardiola commented: "It's a bit like a tradition, three years in a row playing the kings of the competition who have won 14 Champions Leagues. It is what it is, hopefully, we can have a good moment. [There are] still a few weeks before the first game in Madrid. We'll see.
"The draw you cannot control. Normally when people say the draw is easy, you undermine the other opponents. It's not necessary to say what Real Madrid is in this competition, the second leg is at home but two seasons ago it was away, so it is what it is. We have to do two good games there and here to go through."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Guardiola believes that a Champions League quarter-final will not be "special" for Real Madrid as they are regarded as veterans of the competition.
"I would say for [Man City] it's a little bit new, for Real Madrid it's not special to play the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League," he said.
"For us in the last years we have been quite consistent, many times in the final, semi-final, final, now the quarter-final again. We start to be in this routine of being in the latter stages and when you play in the last stages you play the best in Europe. Real Madrid also is there. Sometimes the draw decides, sometimes we are through, sometimes we are out. I don't pay much attention to any one opponent. All the opponents are really, really tough.
"We are excited because it's a privilege every time we're here, in the last 16 or quarter-final always it is. It is a special competition. I've said many times, I don't know which one is the most difficult of the lot because the Premier League, La Liga or Bundesliga, Serie A… always it's difficult with a lot of games. But this one [the Champions League] is special, going to Europe and with the team, with the club and the organisation, we go everywhere to try to play our best football. It's so nice."
GettyWHAT NEXT?
City have a packed schedule before the first leg on April 9, including an FA Cup quarter-final against Newcastle on Saturday and three crucial Premier League encounters against Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Guardiola can hardly afford to rotate the squad as they must pick up maximum points from the league fixtures since they are embroiled in an incredibly tight title race along with the Gunners and Liverpool.