Pep Guardiola: Manchester City absorbed key insights from Real Madrid encounters
Pep Guardiola stated that Manchester City has gained important insights from their extended Champions League competition against Real Madrid, following the Friday draw that matched them against the Spanish side in the last 16 knockout stage.
Guardiola's team will take on Real Madrid across two fixtures in March, in what represents their newest battle with the 15-time European title holders.
Manchester City and Real Madrid have clashed in 15 prior Champions League fixtures, which includes a 2-1 victory for the Premier League outfit during the group phase in Madrid back in December.
Real Madrid has eliminated Manchester City from the Champions League over the previous two campaigns, securing a 6-3 aggregate success in the playoff stage this past season and prevailing via a quarter-final spot-kick decider in 2023-24.
The sides also faced off in the 2022 and 2023 semi-final ties, where Real Madrid claimed the initial encounter while City advanced three years prior.
Guardiola feels that competing against the most accomplished outfit in Champions League annals has honed his players' ambition to excel at the elite tier.
"For our team, competing against the greatest sides across the history of this tournament allows you to gain knowledge, develop further, and prepare stronger for what lies ahead," Guardiola remarked.
Guardiola guided City to their inaugural Champions League victory in 2023, as part of the club's legendary treble achievement that year.
At present, his attention remains on sustaining City's pursuit of a seventh Premier League championship under his leadership.
They travel to Leeds on Saturday, sitting five points behind frontrunners Arsenal yet holding control over the title outcome themselves.
City possess an extra fixture compared to Arsenal and will welcome the Gunners in April.
Should Guardiola's squad secure their remaining 11 league outings, they will clinch the crown regardless of Arsenal's results in their concluding 10 games.
Although Guardiola has navigated many triumphant title pursuits, Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta continues to await his initial league trophy.
Arteta's sole silverware at Arsenal has been the 2020 FA Cup, with the team placing second in the standings for the past three years.
Arsenal squandered major advantages over City in 2023 and 2024, and they have faltered once more this term, sparking doubts about their capacity to cope with the intensity.
"I cannot recollect. My role is not to offer guidance to Mikel," Guardiola responded when questioned about the sensation of chasing an initial championship.
Guardiola noted that Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush, who are Muslim members of the City squad, will be ready for the Leeds match amid the Ramadan observance of fasting.
"They observe this faith practice, and our expert nutrition staff tailor plans to meet the squad's requirements," the City manager explained.
"They are accustomed to it, no longer novices, and experienced in performing during this time. This is not new for them, and we understand the best approach.
"They consult with the medical team and make necessary changes, though they are well aware of the steps to take."