Real Madrid vs Manchester City
UEFA Champions League
1st leg
Semi-Final
Tuesday
9th May 2023
Santiago Bernabeu
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu turned into a haunted house for Manchester City last season. Will The Citizens take revenge against Real Madrid for last year’s bitter Champions League elimination? Manager Pep Guardiola and Rodri each have their own interpretation.
Déjà vu in Bernabéu: “It would be a mistake to want to take revenge”
For City, there seemed to be no problem in the semi-finals in Madrid last year. On the way to the final minute of the return, the English superpower cherished a safe margin of two goals, but it disappeared like snow in the sun with a double hit from Rodrygo. Karim Benzema then ruled City in extra time.
“But it would be a mistake to want revenge,” Guardiola said at Monday’s press conference. “We played exceptionally well in Manchester last year and were very good here, but that wasn’t enough. What happened then is in the past. Of course they are the same managers and eighty or ninety percent the same players, but they are completely different games.
“Gabriel Jesus was very dangerous, but different from Haaland”
Carlo Ancelotti received a lot of questions about Erling Haaland ahead of the first semi-final of the Champions League between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
“We are playing against Manchester City, not against Erling Haaland,” the Italian coach made clear at the press conference. “Haaland is clearly a very dangerous player. He proves to be of the highest level, especially when it comes to scoring goals. But if we only talk about Haaland, we forget a very complete team that plays very good football, that defends well, that attacks, that has ideas. We intend to stop a team that seems unstoppable.”
“We will get our chances,” said Ancelotti, who won the Copa del Rey on Saturday thanks to Rodrygo. “And we are in good shape, at the same level as last year. What counts is the motivation, the enthusiasm. Winning the trophy is a bonus.”
Last season, Real Madrid and Manchester City also met in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Then De Koninklijke triumphed 3-1 in Madrid after a 4-3 defeat in England. “It’s a more complete team than last year,” Ancelotti analyzed. “Gabriel Jesus was very dangerous, but different from Haaland. Now they have more advantage of the long ball. But the style is the same.”
