Pep Guardiola hails Manchester City’s resilience after battling 2-1 win at Real Madrid

MADRID – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his players’ resilience and determination, after they fought back to secure a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in their Champions League encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu on ​Dec 10. 

Despite a lacklustre opening 30 minutes in which City looked vulnerable to Real’s relentless forward play, Nico O’Reilly’s equaliser and Erling Haaland’s penalty overturned Rodrygo’s early opener to hand the ​visitors ​three vital points in league-phase action. 

Guardiola admitted that his side had been second best in the opening stages of the game but lauded the character that allowed them to recover from a sluggish start.  

“We’ve been here several times and played much, much better than today and didn’t win,” the Spaniard said of City’s ​previous visits to the Bernabeu.

“In the first 25 minutes, until the goal from Nico, they were much better than us. I will take the result but I know we need to be better.

“I know that in February and March, if we go through, the level we require is ​higher than today.”  

To their credit, City showed greater composure after taking the lead, with Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden causing problems for Real’s defence in the second half. Guardiola also singled out ​Doku for praise.  

“Every time we lost the ball, they threatened, especially with Vinicius Jr, many, many times,” he said.

“It was good to score a goal because it helped us get back into the game. Jeremy Doku was outstanding today, like other players too. It was a good experience for us being here, for many new players coming for the first time to this stadium, where it is so tough to play. 

“I have to be so grateful to the players. I’m happy. I’ve been here many times in these ​last few years. We’ve fought many battles, and we’ve been much better than today but didn’t manage to win. This is ​a reality.”  

With City now fourth in the league standings on 13 points, Guardiola will be hoping his side carry this resilience into the final two matches to secure a top-eight finish and direct qualification to the round of 16.

Real coach Xabi Alonso, whose side are seventh a point back, said he feels backed by his squad to stay at the helm of the club despite their defeat – their second straight following a 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo last weekend.

The Spanish media had reported before the match that a loss to City could cost him his job, with the home fans whistling their team on Dec 10.

However, Real’s overall performance was strong and Alonso said he was “grateful” to his players, even though they have won just twice in their last eight matches across all competitions.

“I feel the support of the players, we’re at (the training ground) every day together, preparing the games,” the Spaniard told reporters.

He also said that even though Real fell to a second consecutive defeat, he could not ask for more from his side.

“The players are giving until their last breath, so I have nothing to reproach, I am very grateful for their attitude, day-to-day, and we have to continue,” added Alonso.

“The results are not what we want, we have to be self-critical... but keep working and believing that this will pass, because everything passes, and I’m convinced we can do it.”

Real were without top scorer Kylian Mbappe for the game because of knee discomfort, which forced him to miss training on Dec 9.

The record 15-time Champions League winners now face a battle for a place in the top eight of the league phase table. REUTERS, AFP