Pep Guardiola praised “fantastic goals” from Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol and Manchester City’s emotional stability as the holders drew 3-3 at Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The lead changed three times in a six-goal thriller. City went ahead on two minutes via Silva but Real equalised via a Rúben Dias own goal and were 2-1 up on 14 minutes as Rodrygo scored. Foden’s 66th-minute long-range effort gained City parity before Gvardiol’s first goal for the visitors put them ahead. The Croat’s goal was also an impressive 25-yard finish and was matched for quality by Federico Valverde’s superb volley from close to the edge of the area.
Guardiola said: “Fantastic goals for all three [of City’s] and Valverde as well. We were unfortunate for the deflections but it’s football. What I liked most is how we played in the second half, 2-1 down playing here without much composure. They are so dangerous on transitions and could score more goals but we controlled the game really well. One of the key points in these games is being stable emotionally. It’s fundamental. Take the good moments and be stable in the bad moments.
“It’s Madrid, it’s special. We go 2-3 but here it is never over. We take the result – in one week [on Wednesday] in Manchester it will be sold out and our people will help us to score one goal and we will do the rest. We will try to reach the semi-final.”
Guardiola denied disappointment at being unable to defend the 3-2 lead. “It’s fine, it’s the Bernabéu, my friend. The first half didn’t have composure, we lost more [possession than usual against Madrid. It’s so difficult because they have not just legs but the quality to make these transitions effectively,” he said. “In the second half we played with incredible personality and tried to score goals. We did it. We scored three goals in the Bernabéu, it’s really good. It’s a good result for us, definitely. I have too good an opinion of this team [Real] – it’s not a piece of cake.”
Foden limped off towards the end. “It’s a knock. He was grumpy with me, asking why I made the substitution so that means he’s OK,” Guardiola said.
Of next week’s second leg he said: “Real are the kings of this competition, they have been in these situations many times so I don’t know what can happen. The favourite will be who plays better and imposes our way of playing.”
Kevin De Bruyne was selected to start but illness forced him to pull out. “He started to vomit when he arrived,” said Guardiola.
Real’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said: “A very good game from our team [but] we are at a disadvantage because we play far from our own stadium [in the return].”
