CITY JUST NEED TO SHOW REAL METTLE
PEP GUARDIOLA told his Manchester City players to keep their heads up following their thrilling 4-3 win over Real Madrid.
Having three times held a two-goal advantage in a breathless semi-final first-leg classic, there was a nagging sense of City having missed the opportunity to kill the tie at home.
Given the chances they created and ultimately squandered on Tuesday night, City could have feasibly scored eight, such was the brilliance of their attacking play, let down only by their finishing.
But Guardiola’s positive spin was echoed by captain Fernandinho, who said City must forget their missed chances and go to Madrid believing they can “hurt” and ultimately overcome the 13-time winners.
“Football can be like this,” said Fernandinho. “Sometimes it can be 3-0 or 4-0 and then you concede a goal.
“Real are a dangerous team. They have top players and, in the meantime, they can create chances and score goals, so you have to be careful all the time.
“But we’re going to go there to try to win the game and we’ll try to play as we have been playing so far.”
Phil Foden, one of City’s scorers in the thrilling tie, admitted City will need to show the same mental resolve as Real when the two sides meet in Madrid.
He said: “We have to stay focused for the full 90 minutes and that’s all we can do.”