Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his players already have the belief needed to attempt a dramatic comeback against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
City trail 3–0 from the first leg and must produce something special at home if they are to eliminate the competition’s most decorated club, who have won the tournament 15 times.
Speaking ahead of the match on Monday, Guardiola said there was no need to convince his squad that a turnaround is possible.
“After ten years working together, I don’t need to persuade my players to believe,” he told reporters.
“We approach every match with the intention of giving everything, and this one will be no different.”
The Spanish coach acknowledged that several members of the current squad have limited experience in situations like this but insisted the match offers a rare opportunity.
“Some of them are new to this kind of challenge because the team has changed over the years,” he said. “But it’s still a great chance to test ourselves.”
Guardiola also confirmed he cancelled Monday’s training session, giving his players time to rest before preparations resume on Tuesday.
According to him, mental sharpness will be just as important as tactics.
“When you play well mentally, you perform better on the pitch,” he explained.
“I’m confident we will create chances at home. The key will be how well we defend.”
Despite the daunting scoreline, Guardiola believes the tie is not completely decided.
“Scoring three goals against Madrid is never easy,” he admitted.
“The first-leg result was far from ideal, but football can change quickly.”
City captain Bernardo Silva also expressed confidence that the team will keep pushing for a comeback.
The midfielder joked that he was the only player who still had media duties after the squad was given a day off.
“We’ve seen many situations in football where things change quickly,” Silva said.
“The result in Madrid hurt, but we’ll keep fighting until the final whistle.”
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