Pep Guardiola insists he ISN’T overthinking in the Champions League again
Pep Guardiola insists he is NOT overthinking again in the Champions League – after teasing he could ‘do something else to be more fluid in attack’ against Real Madrid tomorrow
Pep Guardiola has admitted to making some tactical changes ahead of the Champions League clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid, but insists he isn’t thinking too much about it.
City will host Real Madrid at the Etihad on Wednesday night for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final after drawing 1-1 in Spain in the first leg.
Real ended City’s dreams of winning a maiden Champions League title at the same stage in dramatic fashion 12 months ago and hope to do it again this year.
However, Guardiola and his team are desperate to beat the LaLiga giants and continue their hunt for a historic treble.
To do this, Guardiola has decided to change his tactics, but insists it’s “nothing special” and that it’s “nothing different from what they’ve done in the past.”
Pep Guardiola has admitted he made some tactical changes ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday night
Speaking at City’s press conference on Tuesday, Guardiola said: “I have an idea to do something different, just to be more fluid in attack.”
He went on to reassure City fans: “It’s nothing special, is it. Don’t think too much about tomorrow, don’t worry guys. Nothing different from what we’ve done in the past.’
When asked what he wanted to change, Guardiola said: “Hopefully you’ll see it tomorrow. I can’t tell you, otherwise Carlo [Ancelotti] will hear…’
Guardiola has previously been criticized for overthinking his tactics when it comes to the Champions League.
During Guardiola’s first season as City boss, the Premier League giants went all-out against Monaco in the Round of 16, securing a 5-3 lead in the first leg.
However, they lost their advantage and eventually lost the tie due to defensive shortcomings.
The following year, the City boss decided to play Aymeric Laporte in an unfamiliar position on the left side of the defense against Liverpool at Anfield.
Unsurprisingly, Laporte was completely out of his depth and Mohamed Salah, the danger man he should mark, scored after just 12 minutes.
As a result, Liverpool won the match 3–0 and progressed to the next stage of the competition 5–1 on aggregate.
Guardiola wanted to turn things around in 2019 and keep their quadruple hopes alive as they played Spurs in the quarter-finals. However, it was not to be.
More to follow…
