Guardiola: Bernabeu the perfect stage for Man City to prove Champions League worth

Pep Guardiola believes there isn’t a higher place than the Estadio Bernabeu for his Manchester Metropolis staff to show their value on this yr’s Champions League.

The Residents have been common guests to the Spanish capital in UEFA’s flagship competitors, with this their fifteenth assembly within the Champions League for the reason that 2012-13 version.

After solely shedding one in every of his first 9 away video games in opposition to Madrid as a supervisor (W6 D2), Guardiola is winless in his final 4 journeys to face the Spanish aspect (D2 L2), although.

Metropolis, in the meantime, have misplaced their final two video games in opposition to Los Blancos, struggling defeats dwelling and away in opposition to them in final season’s play-off spherical to lose 6-3 on mixture.

Certainly, that’s as many losses as that they had skilled of their earlier 11 video games in opposition to the LaLiga giants mixed (W4 D5 L2), although Guardiola believes the enduring stadium presents the possibility for his staff to duplicate earlier successes on that floor.

“We had been in a gaggle stage, it’s totally different in the event you play the final 16 or quarter-finals or semi-finals,” Guardiola informed reporters.

“Final season we arrived with all the issues, however the different video games have been tight and good video games. We’ve essential gamers which are having their first time right here in Bernabeu.

“The largest gamers that make a legacy for a decade – Kevin De Bruyne, Walker, Gundogan, Stones – should not right here. Many are new, they need to expertise that.

“They need to know they’ve completed it and may do it once more. It’s a superb place to show your self and the way you’re as a staff.”

Subsequent cease: Madrid @cpcompany_1971 pic.twitter.com/Wvu7yPAz4D

— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) December 9, 2025

Guardiola has confronted Madrid on 27 earlier events, profitable 48% of these matches (W13 D7 L7).

Nevertheless, the Spaniard is winless in the latest 4 in opposition to the Spanish aspect (D2 L2), although he has by no means gone 5 in succession with out beating them.

And the Metropolis boss will reunite with Xabi Alonso, with the Madrid boss making 79 appearances underneath Guardiola at Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2016.

However discuss forward of the sport has surrounded Alonso and his place on the membership, following Madrid’s 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo in LaLiga final weekend.

“Their opinion, I don’t agree with their opinion,” Guardiola stated on hypothesis surrounding Alonso.

“After all, I’ve sympathy as a result of we had been collectively for 2 years, and it was an unbelievable expertise being with him.

“Not simply as managers; we share households as effectively. Barcelona and Actual Madrid are the hardest golf equipment to be supervisor of due to the atmosphere.

“It’s a troublesome place, however he is aware of it – it’s the truth of being right here.

“Many gamers are injured, like with us final season, however he’s able to doing what’s required of that place, being supervisor of Actual Madrid.

“In all places right now, it’s important to win; in any other case, you could have an issue.

“In England, what occurs within the locker room all the time stays there, however in my expertise in Spain, at Barca and Actual Madrid, everyone is aware of every thing.”