Pep Guardiola says that Manchester City has a ‘one percent chance’ to destroy them 3-2 behind Real Madrid and to continue to the last 16 of the Champions League.
City led 2-1 in the Etihad Stadium last week, but goals from Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham saw the European champions go back to claim an advantage in the second stage of their knockout phase Playoff on the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday evening.
Next: a trip to the Bernabeu 📍#Asahisuperdry 🤝 pic.twitter.com/0V9MTBMOJC
– Manchester City (@Mancity) February 17, 2025
Even the best version of Guardiola’s city would have trouble getting through, let alone the side of 2024-25 that has been subject to a large part of the season.
Guardiola said: “The margin to win in that position in Bernabéu [3-2 down]Everyone knows that if you ask before the game, the percentage to continue, I don’t know, we arrive with one percent, or I don’t know what.
“It will be minimal, but as much if you have a chance, we will try, that’s for sure, you know? The chance is small because the result was not good-five minutes ago, with 2-1, it would be different.
“But with 2-3 the chance is less, but as much if you have a chance, we will take it, and we will see what happens.”
We are miles away – Pep
City will at least travel to Spain on the back of a moral reinforcement after the thrashing of colleague Premier League Top-Vier hopeful Newcastle 4-0 on Saturday.
But Guardiola accepts that it has been a bad season according to their elevated standards.
“There are many, many games that we have not played the level we play, and at the end we lost it,” said Guardiola.
“And those were not only the three points, it is how it influences our mind for the next game.
“It often happened. This season is the reality that we have been miles away. ‘
