Mansion Sports – The clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Bernabeu brought another compelling chapter to the Champions League stage. 

Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City delivered a significant victory that resonated far beyond the final whistle. 

Manchester City, coached by Pep Guardiola, secured a victory at the Bernabeu on Wednesday as Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Premier League side.

The win became a satisfying moment for the former Barcelona manager, with Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland scoring after Rodrygo Goes opened the lead for Los Blancos.

According to Diario AS, Guardiola shared his thoughts on how the match unfolded. He admitted that his team had not shown their best performance prior to Rodrygo’s opening goal in the 28th minute.

“When you score a goal, you find the way you should play. Before that goal, we did not control the game, we were not aggressive. They made it very difficult for us to attack, but after the goal, everything changed. I think this is a valuable lesson for the future so that we can compete like this in the next stages.”

Guardiola’s Assessment of Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid

Guardiola was asked to evaluate the performance of Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso.

“They went through a lot of difficulties. In the first half, they were much better. Clearly, after the goal and the penalty, we became calmer. Then, when they brought on Endrick, Vinicius became open, many players were in the penalty area… All we had to do was defend and defend.”

Guardiola’s Views on Antonio Rudiger and the Penalty Incident

Guardiola also highlighted the performance of referee Clement Turpin. He judged the penalty awarded to Manchester City as clear, while stating that Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card due to a late challenge on Savinho.

“The penalty was very clear, and Rudiger indeed deserved a second yellow card.”

Guardiola’s Praise for Rodrygo

He also commented on Rodrygo, whom he spoke with after the final whistle.

“I told him how great he is. The boy is a player of a different level. I am pleased that he has returned from injury. He is very, very great.”

Pep Guardiola’s reflections after the match underline both the challenges Manchester City faced and the moments that shifted the momentum in their favor. 

His acknowledgment of Real Madrid’s quality, the praise for individual players, and the emphasis on learning from each performance reflect a manager who continues to seek growth even in victory. 

The encounter at the Bernabeu stands as a reminder of the high standards demanded in the Champions League and the brilliance required to prevail.