Guardiola not looking beyond Schalke test

MANAGER Pep Guardiola insists Real Madrid’s exit does not make Manchester City’s task in the Champions League any easier.

The holders were surprisingly eliminated by Ajax at the last-16 stage last week, while another fancied side in Paris St Germain were beaten by Manchester United.

But Guardiola, who maintains his team are still a junior outfit in European terms, says that does not mean the competition is opening up for quadruple-chasing City.

Guardiola said: “If people think Real Madrid is out so it will be easy it’s because they still don’t understand this competition.

“Of course, it’s incredible – four times winner in five years, three in a row. It’s the best team in the last decade. It’s incredible what they have done. I thought they were the favourites.

“Hopefully we can be in the quarter-finals, but the teams will be of a similar level to Real Madrid because they are top.”

City still have work to do to secure a quarter-final place after requiring a late fightback – with 10 men – to beat Schalke 3-2 in the first leg of their last-16 tie. The sides meet again at the Etihad Stadium tonight.

Guardiola said: “I think a week ago we didn’t expect PSG would happen, or Real Madrid.

“People say there is nothing to do, but one red card, one goal in the first minute – many things can happen in 90 minutes in this kind of competition.

“I would say we are quite lucky that we played 10 v 11 for 23 or 24 minutes 2-1 down. Normally, in those circumstances today you are almost out of this competition.”