Pep Guardiola spoke to TNT Sports after Manchester City’s victory against Real Madrid: “”Could be better. So difficult here. Four or five players played for the first time here. Winning here we have to be happy in terms of points especially. We have 13 and it’s in our hands to finish in the top eight. That’s the target and winning here after Leverkusen is good.
“Matheus [Nunes] was good. Full-backs, Rayan Cherki first time playing here. Nico [O’Reilly] incredible performance. Jeremy [Doku] helped us a lot with many things. We started with a mistake but I was expecting them to press higher but they dropped and we found it hard. But we take it.
“Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, [Jude] Bellingham, great players. The pace they have up front is so dangerous, that’s why you can’t stay high you have to be committed int defence. We lacked a little bit so we can improve.”
On Erling Haaland: “His numbers speak for itself. We have to find him more, he has to be involved in the game. In the last couple of games he hasn’t been in the game so we have to find a way to find him more.”
On this win boosting confidence to win the Champions League: “We are not ready. We are away. In February we will be better. These kind of games, we have been here before and played better and lost. The players made a big effort but we still have much to improve.”
Nico O’Reilly also spoke to TNT: “Such a good feeling. To come here, what an atmosphere, what a stadium, so tough to come here but we got the three points and that’s the most important thing.
“Very special – over the moon. This goal will be with me forever but we got the three points and that’s the most important thing.”
On increased game time: “I’m loving it, taking it all in my stride, every game as it comes. Working hard every session and I’m loving it.
“We know how good Real are, we’ve played them over the last few seasons and they’re so good. It shows how well we’re playing at the minute and our form. We’ll have a good chance [to reach the final].
“First few minutes I was a bit slow, I could’ve stopped that first goal, but I made up for it I think.”
About the Author
