City have belief they can stage comeback vs Real: Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not need to convince his players that they could overturn a 3-0 Champions League deficit against Real Madrid, he said on Monday, adding that it was a game where many things can happen.

The English side face a daunting task at home against the record 15-times European champions, who have knocked them out of the past two editions of the Champions League.

“After 10 years you have to convince some of my players about their belief? They know me quite well. Every single game we try. This will be no exception. They have to,” Guardiola told reporters.

“I am pretty sure they will try it. Of course ⁠most of them are new to experiencing such situations. We are not the same group we had for many years but, at the same time, it is an incredible experience and an incredible opportunity to try it...

“It’s a football game, many things can happen. You have to focus and first try to win the game then after that we will see what happens during the game. I don’t have a specific plan. Just try it.”

Guardiola opted to cancel training on Monday and give his players the day off before the game, with the squad to train on Tuesday instead.

Asked if resting his players would help them mentally, the Spanish manager said: “It’s related. The way you play, if you play good mentally you will be strong.

“I am not much concerned about the chances we are going to create, I am pretty sure that we are able to do it. At home we are always able to do it. It is more about how well we are going to defend.

“The task is massive, to score more than three goals against Real Madrid, it is not easy. The result in the first leg is not the perfect one but at the same time we are here, it is a football game, everything can happen.”

City captain Bernardo Silva, who was tasked with media duties on Monday, joked he was the only player who did not get a day off.

“We’ve done it in the past, plenty of times. When we lost games, when we’ve won games, when the manager felt it was best for the team,” the Portuguese international added.

“With all the trips we’ve had, this week, I think he felt it best for us to sleep better and come back tomorrow stronger and ready for the game...

“This sport has taught us that a lot of things can happen. Even though the result in Madrid was really bad, we will fight until the end.”

Real have been provided a double injury boost ahead of their clash against City.

Coach Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed that their top goal-scorer, Kylian Mbappe, along with Jude Bellingham, are declared fit and included in the 26-man squad for Tuesday’s match.

Neither Mbappe nor Bellingham featured in the previous match due to injury. Left-back Alvaro Carreras and central defender David Alaba also missed the match with calf problems, but both players have been named in the travelling squad.

Bellingham has missed Madrid’s last nine games after suffering a hamstring injury early in a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano at the start of February.

Mbappe has been dealing with discomfort in his left knee since before Christmas. Madrid have tried to manage the issue by resting him in selected games, including the defeat to Manchester City in December, the Spanish Super Cup semifinal, and last month’s LaLiga win over Real Sociedad.

Arteta wary of Leverkusen threat: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to deliver a complete performance at the Emirates on Tuesday as they aim to secure a Champions League quarter-final place against Bayer Leverkusen, with the tie finely balanced at 1-1.

Arteta’s side needed a late lifeline in the first leg, with substitute Kai Havertz converting an 89th-minute penalty against his former club.

“A lot of factors will contribute for us to be in the quarter-finals,” Arteta told reporters on Monday. “We need to have every element in our favour to achieve that.”

Leverkusen arrive in North London in confident mood after holding Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

“Watching them play against Bayern, it was very similar,” Arteta said. “They are really well coached, with a clear structure. We know what we have to do in front of our crowd and hopefully we are going to do it.”

Agencies