Pep Guardiola knows Manchester City will need to perform “incredibly” if they are to maintain their lead over Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final.
Manchester City will lock horns once again with Real Madrid on Wednesday night for a place in the Champions League final. Guardiola’s side have a slender advantage from the first leg, which they won 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium.
But it will be all to play for at the Bernabeu as they attempt to reach a second consecutive European final.
For the next instalment of the challenge, Guardiola will once again be unable to call upon centre-back John Stones, who is “not ready” – but still has a decision to make about Kyle Walker.
Of the full-back, he told a press conference: “He trained, he’ll travel and we decide tomorrow. Happy he’s back, he tries to be in contention tomorrow.
“Joao [Cancelo] is not out; he’s doing good. Kyle we’ll see how he wakes up and we’ll see.”
Asked if he could pick the same team, Guardiola replied: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. The selection is try to win the game.
“There are moments you train really bad before the game and do exceptional performance or train really well and the guys do bad. There are things we did well and things we have to improve.”
One man who could be firmly within Guardiola’s thoughts is Gabriel Jesus. He has been restored to a centre-forward role recently after playing much of the season on the wing.
In turn, the exit-linked Brazilian has found his form again, with a four-goal haul against Watford followed by a strike in the first leg against Real and then one in their most recent win over Leeds.
Guardiola said: “Are you telling me he’s a striker? He scored five goals, I’m more than happy for these goals. He’s ready, like everyone is ready.”
Jesus scored on his last visit to the Bernabeu, when City beat Real 2-1 in the Round of 16 in February 2020.
On the prospect of repeating such a performance, Guardiola…
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