Recognizing Liverpool’s excellent season to date, Pep Guardiola also noted that Real Madrid would be the front runners to capture the Champions League. A brilliant show by Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick propelled Real Madrid to a commanding 3-1 second-leg win at the Santiago Bernabeu and dashed Man City’s European aspirations. Already 3-2 ahead in the first leg at the Etihad, the Spanish giants had qualified for the last 16. Reflecting on his team’s exit, Guardiola stays fixed on the domestic front ahead, including the still-underway title chase between Arsenal and Liverpool.
Guardiola Recognizes Liverpool’s Strong Form Ahead Of Etihad Showdown
Avoiding the play-off round, Liverpool will today discover their last-16 competitors after leading their Champions League group. Arne Slot’s team, recently drawing 2-2 with Aston Villa, now get ready for an essential match against Man City at Etihad on Sunday. Liverpool have amazed this season starting Premier League leaders, and Pep Guardiola recognized their strong campaign when he spoke of Champions League contenders. He named Real Madrid as frontrunners but also acknowledged Liverpool’s great form, and said “Of course Madrid are a contender, definitely. But there are other good teams around. It will be an interesting Champions League season.”
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Guardiola Backs Madrid As UCL Favorites, Shifts Man City’s Focus To League Qualification
Pep Guardiola confirmed Real Madrid‘s mastery of the Champions League by saying “Madrid are always favourites for this trophy. There are other teams who are having a very good season, but Madrid are always favourites.” He added that “Liverpool are having a really good season up until now, Barcelona are amazing, Paris Saint-Germain, with my friend Luis [Enrique] in charge, are on the march.” Guardiola spoke before Man City‘s next match and confessed their focus is on getting Champions League qualification now, saying, “The FA Cup is there too, but now we are out of the Champions League and we have 13 games in the Premier League to be in the top four or five.”
