Pep Guardiola is 100% culé, but his love for FC Barcelona does not prevent him from recognizing the power, hierarchy and history of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
This Tuesday, following City’s draw (0-0) once morest Kobenhavn in Denmark, they asked him why it was so difficult for him to win the European Cup with Los Sky Blues.
His answer was short, concise and forceful: “BECAUSE REAL MADRID IS ALWAYS THERE.”
THE PROBLEM IS COMPETING AGAINST REAL MADRID
– Journalist: “You have won everything with Manchester City, except the UEFA Champions League. Obviously it is very difficult to win it. Tell me, why is it so difficult?
— Pep Guardiola: “BECAUSE REAL MADRID IS ALWAYS THERE (LAUGHS)”.
It is not the first time that the Catalan coach has surrendered to Madrid’s superiority in the European Cup. This he said last April: “I have always liked Madrid, since I played, I trained. They do many things well. The quality they have… is no coincidence. People say: ‘Oh, what a coincidence, what luck’. There is nothing that. He has a high level, in everything. People who say: ‘It’s because they’re lucky’. No. Nothing of that”.
Undefeated data. Pep Guardiola has faced Real Madrid 21 times in his career as manager. His balance favors him in a bestial way, but he has suffered them in the UEFA Champions League: 12 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses.
Did you know…? Pep Guardiola has beaten Real Madrid in 2 of 4 UEFA Champions League knockout ties. In 2011, he beat them in the semi-finals with FC Barcelona. And in 2020, he took them out in the round of 16 with Manchester City. The series in which Real Madrid fell? The semifinals of 2014 and in the semifinals of 2022. In both he was facing Carlo Ancelotti.
Undefeated data. Pep Guardiola has won 2 UEFA Champions Leagues in his career as manager. Both with FC Barcelona. He hasn’t conquered her since 2011.