16.3.2026
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his team had little time to train ahead of their second leg round of 16 Champions League tie against Real Madrid, but they try to win.
City are looking to overturn the three goals deficit from the first leg in Madrid. But with Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham expected back in the Los Blancos squad looking unbeatable, City have a mountain to climb.
Speaking on his team hard pressed for training time Guardiola said Monday: “We train Tuesday for the game.
“In Madrid, we arrived late [back] in the hotel, sleep, come back [to Manchester] in the morning, travelling here, day after no training, go to London (for Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with West Ham), arrived [back] yesterday at 2:30am, so today you cannot do anything.
“The players who played are still at home and tomorrow we train… the training won’t improve a lot, so we don’t have time to train. I prefer them to be at home. We will arrive at 2.00pm, move a little on the legs and go. It’s not the first time. I’ve done it two or three times this season (against Borussia Dortmund and Fulham).
However, the former champions according to Guardiola will try to win.
“I don’t have a specific plan for the game against Real Madrid, apart from just trying.”
“In a match, many things can happen. The first thing we have to do is try to win.”
“If after 10 years I have to explain to our players what faith is, we have a problem. I’m pretty sure we’ll give it a try. We have a great opportunity.”