Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has noted that he and his team are in big trouble ahead of the club’s UEFA Champions League tie against Real Madrid.
On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, Manchester City drew 0-0 with Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final to book a place in the semi-final stage of the competition 1-0 on aggregate.
Note that Pep Guardiola and his boys defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final round. Afterward, City traveled to Spain for the second leg which ended in a draw.
After the keenly contested tie, coach Pep Guardiola noted that his team suffered a series of injuries during the second leg tie in Madrid which could be a big problem for his team moving forward.
The fierce match which witnessed a series of intimidations from both the players of Atletico Madrid and the home fans ended with two major injury worries for City.
The biggest injury worry for Manchester City is the one involving the club’s assistant captain, Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian midfielder was substituted by Sterling in the 65th minute due to fitness issues.
Another injury blow involved Kyle Walker who was forced off injured in the 73rd minute at the Wanda Metropolitano. He was replaced by Ake.
Another injury worry involved Phil Foden who required a bandage to his head but had to continue with the match.
Pep Guardiola would wish that these players would be available before City’s FA Cup semi-final game against Liverpool on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Liverpool could find it a bit easier against City if they play without Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker.
If the players fail to recover before the FA Cup clash with Liverpool, Pep Guardiola would hope that they would be fit before Manchester City take on Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final round on April 26.
Recall that Real Madrid defeated Premier League side, Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate to book a place in the semi-final stage of the Champions League.
Real Madrid has won the Champions League a record 13 times but Manchester City are yet to win it. Hence, the pressure will be on the Premier League side to deliver.
“We are in big trouble,” Guardiola told BT Sport after qualifying for the semi-final round of the Champions League campaign. “We cannot forget we played three days ago a tough game against Liverpool. We came here, we have a lot of injuries.
“I don’t know what will happen in the next weeks but today we are going to celebrate. It is the third time in Manchester City’s history we are in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and it is a big success for us to be there.”
In the second leg tie against Atletico Madrid, Pep Guardiola said: “They pushed us a lot,” Guardiola said.
“We had one or two clear chances in the first half but in the second half of the second leg, they were much better. But at the same time, we defended everything.
“We had to adapt. We could not have the ball and we felt the pressure. We are in the semi-finals and it is an incredible achievement for our club.”
🗣 “We forgot to play.”
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 13, 2022
Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City side forgot how to play in the second half against Atlético Madrid in the #UCL. pic.twitter.com/R3I8conXnn
Pep Guardiola refused to comment on the crisis that almost took place in the second leg tie against Atletico Madrid
In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final round, a crisis almost halted the game between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
At the 90th minute mark, Atletico Madrid’s Felipe brought down Foden and the English footballer tried to stay on the pitch longer than expected. Hence, Atletico’s Savic ran to him and tried to force the Spanish midfielder off the pitch so that play can continue. The action sparked a dispute between the two clubs.
the foght between atletico madrid and man city was wild 💀 pic.twitter.com/cZ7jSDl6Py
— Ahmad Saad (@Ahmadsaad961) April 13, 2022
The dispute forced the referee to show Savic a yellow card while Felipe who has been yellow-carded earlier in the game had to be shown a red card. The only Manchester City player that suffered a yellow card due to the dispute was Ake. After the game, the two sides took the fight into the tunnel.
Footage of Atletico Madrid and Manchester City players in the tunnel after… 😳 pic.twitter.com/K7RSUVcXxu
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) April 13, 2022
After the game, reporters tried to get Pep Guardiola’s reaction to the dispute but the coach said he had “nothing to say”.
Guardiola was not also left out in the crisis, Atletico Madrid fans threw liquid at him as he headed for the tunnel. When reporters asked him about the incident, the Spanish tactician said: “Everyone saw the action, but I have nothing to say.”
🗣 “Don’t talk about referees or the opponents neither.”
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 13, 2022
Pep Guardiola’s reaction to questions about what happened in the tunnel at the end of the game against Atlético Madrid. pic.twitter.com/N2VXPrZhYb
