Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has dismissed his team’s prospects of going past Real Madrid to the Champions League quarterfinals, saying that City has a “one percent” chance of doing so. But with their new January additions, the English champs might have a chance.
In the first leg at home, City lost 3-2 to the defending champions after a late collapse that cost them a 2-1 lead. This season, Guardiola’s aged team has found it difficult to maintain high-intensity performances, particularly on European evenings, and that loss was a sign of a larger problem.
New Signings Give It a Lift
In order to overcome these obstacles, City broke with their customary transfer strategy and made significant investments during the winter transfer window, paying a total of £170 million ($214 million) to acquire Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Nico Gonzalez. Marmoush only made a fleeting appearance in the first leg, and the others were either benched or not listed in the team, thus their contribution was negligible.
Guardiola might now be reconsidering his choice in light of the new players’ outstanding performance in City’s 4-0 thumping of Newcastle over the weekend. With a hat-trick in the first half, Marmoush stole the show and gave City’s attack a new dimension with Erling Haaland.
After a challenging Premier League start against Chelsea last month, Khusanov demonstrated his defensive prowess against Newcastle, eliminating Alexander Isak’s threat. In order to contain Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo, Real Madrid’s offensive trio, his quickness and poise may be essential.
Gonzalez has filled in for Rodri, who has been out since September due to a major knee injury, and has provided much-needed balance to City’s midfield. Guardiola has already praised the Barcelona academy product as a “mini Rodri,” and his presence at the Santiago Bernabeu might be crucial.
History Against City, But There Is Still Hope
Despite these advantages, Real Madrid has a previous advantage in this matchup. The two teams have now played each other in the Champions League for four straight seasons; City’s lone success came in 2023 when they won the trophy with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory.
But Madrid has repeatedly come back to haunt Guardiola’s team. City nearly advanced to the final in 2022, but Rodrygo’s incredible stoppage-time double forced extra time, and Los Blancos won their 14th European championship. City defeated Madrid in a penalty shootout last season despite outplaying them in two drawn games.
Guardiola says his team will strive for an impossible comeback, but he is realistic about City’s chances.”The truth is that we have been so far away this season,” Guardiola said. Of course not, if you were to tell me that we would play like we did tonight (against Newcastle) and place 22nd in the Champions League standings. We would place higher. This season, the outcomes have been subpar. I will not change my mind for a single game.
“As long as we have a chance, we will try, but if you ask anyone before that game, we have a one percent chance. That’s certain.
City’s January arrivals might be the spark that ignites an unlikely outcome in Madrid with new legs and renewed impetus.
