Pep Guardiola’s plan? ‘Play better than Madrid’ and an in-form Kevin de Bruyne

LONDON – Real Madrid managed to blunt Manchester City hotshot Erling Haaland in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last week, but there was no stopping the brilliance of Kevin de Bruyne.

The Belgian playmaker’s thunderbolt at the Bernabeu left the tie delicately balanced at 1-1 heading into Wednesday’s second leg, but with City oozing confidence thanks to a 100 per cent record in 15 home games in 2023.

Pep Guardiola’s men are four matches away from becoming just the second side to ever win the treble of the English Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season.

A fifth league title in six seasons is as good as won with a maximum of three points needed from City’s final three games, while Manchester United will have their chance to prevent their treble in 1998-99 being matched in the FA Cup final.

Guardiola, though, is focusing only on Real for now.

“We are not stupid to (not) know how important tomorrow is. Maybe the most important since we’ve been here. I say to the players, live it, enjoy the moment,” he said on Tuesday.

“I have an incredible feeling about the team, because we arrive really good, we’re in the FA Cup final, one game from Premier League (title), but we have to play better than Madrid.

“We have to perform well, not just the desire to reach the final. We have to be better than (at) the Bernabeu to get to the final.”

When asked about his game plan, the City boss added: “Create more chances or get more balls in easy positions. Know their transitions and their quality. We play against the toughest opponents. It’s a challenge.”

Whichever team emerge victorious at the Etihad will be favourites to be crowned European champions against Inter Milan or AC Milan in Istanbul in June.

De Bruyne could yet again be key. Widely considered one of the Premier League’s finest imports, the 31-year-old has twice been crowned Players’ Player of the Year by his peers alongside a growing haul of 10 major trophies under Guardiola.

But City’s failure to get over the line in the Champions League and the lack of a major tournament victory by Belgium’s golden generation means he has not always commanded the same level of respect on the continent.

That could all change should he be the one to make the difference and put Real to the sword, as he did in the first leg.

“I’ve seen a lot of players.... played against some of the greatest. Kevin, his brain is the best I’ve ever seen. I saw stuff he did in training and in games. He’s unbelievable. His brain, he’s on a different planet,” said Arsenal great Thierry Henry, who worked with de Bruyne during two spells as an assistant coach with Belgium.

Despite the attention on Haaland for scoring 52 goals in his first season in England, de Bruyne has continued to be crucial to City’s success, especially when he is the provider of goals.

He has 27 assists in 43 appearances this season, becoming the fastest player to 100 Premier League assists in the process.

While de Bruyne is key to City, the hearts of Real supporters were in their mouths when Eduardo Camavinga limped off against Getafe in La Liga on Saturday.

The 20-year-old French midfielder has become a crucial figure for Carlo Ancelotti’s reigning European champions and an injury would have been a huge setback for the second leg. Spanish media reports, however, have since said that Camavinga will be fit.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, believes that his side will not be fazed by the occasion despite playing away.

“We had good control of the (first leg). When City had lots of possession we were in control defensively, then when we started to play we caused difficulties,” he said. AFP