Pep Guardiola says he has a good relationship with Xavi, but there has been no contact with the Barcelona coach in the run-up to the second meeting with Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League. The manager of Manchester City was asked at the press conference on Tuesday whether he has obtained information from Xavi, who triumphed 0-4 with Barcelona in March at the Santiago Bernabéu.
“I have a great relationship with Xavi, but there is something we don’t have in common,” Guardiola emphasized at the press moment in the run-up to Wednesday evening’s Champions League smasher against Real. “He has players I don’t have and I have players he doesn’t have as a coach. So we can’t compare,” said the Premier League leader’s coach with a smile. Guardiola also responds to the words of Luka Modric, who recently said that a Real in top form will make the final of the billion-dollar ball.
“We feel it too…” ?? Pep Guardiola plays down comments made by Real Madrid’s Luka Modric ahead of their #UCL semi final second leg ??? pic.twitter.com/gGdbIB1MAf
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 3, 2022
“Every team thinks they can beat the opponent when they play at the top level,” Guardiola doesn’t seem very impressed by Modric’s statement. “It’s normal for them to feel that, it’s no different with us.” The Manchester City manager is then reminded of an old statement from 2016 when he went to work in England. Guardiola then said it could be ten years or more before Manchester City can compete with clubs like Real. Then there is the question of whether the English superpower feels equal to Wednesday’s opponent. “They are two good teams, we saw that a week ago. They are champions of Spain and we want to become champions in England. We want to reach the final just like last year, that is our ultimate goal.”
Guardiola is also coming back once again to the 0-4 punishment that Real endured against Barcelona. “I saw the summary then, but not the whole game. I know that Ancelotti did something tactically that he normally wouldn’t do so quickly. But I can’t get anything out of that game that can help us on Wednesday evening,” he said. the Spanish manager, who has great respect for champion coach Ancelotti. “He has worked in all the major football countries, at fantastic clubs. And his performances have always been great. He knows what to do every game and is a great person. I had the privilege of meeting him several years ago and you can feel every times what a calm person he is. Carlo is always in control of his emotions and feelings, and that reflects on his teams,” concludes Guardiola.