Pep Guardiola spoke in the 'flash interview' of Movistar Champions after the victory against Madrid (2-1) and that he has given him a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Analysis: “In the first half it has been difficult for us. They are strong in the middle with the three they have, which are very good. Benzema, too. It is not easy, but in the second half we have been very good. We have pressed, but we have They took advantage of the mistakes they have made, sometimes football offers you this. We have beaten them twice and Zidane had never been eliminated. We are here to try to win the Champions League. If you want to win, you have to beat the big clubs. We have to be watch out for Lyon, now we can prepare better ”.
Effort: “There was a lot of humidity and the players who come here suffer a lot. We are very happy to eliminate a team that won this tournament three times recently. We are very happy because we are a weightless team in that competition and we are going to go to the stage. end of Lisbon “.
De Bruyne: “It was difficult for him to enter the first half, but in the second he has been very good. He is a unique player, when he can run. But the player in the elimination has been Gabriel Jesus, both here and there, he has been decisive. Walkder has been very good too. They force you to play long and they are stronger there. In the second half we opened more to the extremes and we felt more comfortable. In the first half we made them play inside and I think it was not a good decision “.
Talk with Zidane at the end: “Congratulate him on the league and ask about his family. Hopefully one day we can have dinner together and talk.”
Subsequently, the Manchester City coach addressed the rest of the media in the press room.
Sensations: “I am more than satisfied, especially for the players. Now, to Portugal to try to take the next step. We are aware of the team we have beaten. We are very satisfied.”
Analysis: “In the first half the wingers were more inside than outside and we had problems getting them to receive well oriented. In the second we expanded the field further.”
Madrid mistakes: “This competition does not forgive you. Varane is very intuitive normally. Sterling caused the penalty in Madrid, today he gave a decisive assist for us. We knew how to suffer in difficult moments.”
Approach: “In the first half we tried to attack, but it was not possible due to the quality of the rival. When you are in that situation and you see the personality and charisma of Madrid, it seems that they play as if it were a relaxed match. We suffered a little in the first half. On the other hand, they were very cold-blooded and we suffered a bit with the pressure of the result, of the scoreboard. When we opened the court more in the second half, we created more opportunities and showed what we wanted. We have created enough opportunities to score, although unfortunately we could not Courtois has made paradons “.
Gabriel Jesus: “He always does much more than score goals, but for the strikers it is always important to do so. He has shown, both at the Bernabéu and here, on big stages, he has taken a step forward, he has said 'Here I am, I'm Grabiel Jesus and I can win games for my team. 'But the most important thing is that we didn't make mistakes behind, because in this competition they don't forgive you. “
Best chance in the Champoions for the format: “The rivals will think the same thing. We are not more special than the others. We want to win. We have beaten Madrid, yes, but we have to win many with the same quality. Bayern will play against Chelsea, Barcelona with Naples , Lyon are here and we couldn't beat them in the groups and they have a very good coach. We have Atlético de Madrid, twice a finalist in the Champions League and who have beaten Liverpool twice, which for me is the best team in the world. So there are many incredible teams, but this was a very important step. We have beaten Madrid, it is something incredible for us. We are going to train, eat well, be together, go to Bernardo (Silva) country, laugh a lot and try to pass from the semi-finals, which is our best success in this tournament. You have to be calm. “
Past in Europe: “With Tottenham it was because of the goal difference away. In this competition you have to be solid and not err behind. We have created chances to score more goals, we can improve, hopefully we can, but back we have been very solid. Reaching the quarterfinals and eliminating Madrid is fine, they have won three Champions League titles, but you are a great club when you lift the trophy. We are capable, yes, but we will see the recovery. “
Psychological importance: “It is important, of course. I know that for Madrid or Barcelona to beat a great rival in the round of 16 is normal, but for us not. Now we have to do it for the present and for the future, for our club: it gives us more presence and character. in Europe, it's very important for us, for the size of the club, for the people who work here, for the fans… It's a statement. “
After the match: “I have congratulated Zidane for the League. I have always said that winning the League or the Premier is the most difficult thing in football, it requires being at full capacity for eleven months. We have talked about families. He was one of my idols when I played, we faced each other with the selections “.
Big rival: “When you are on the bench and you see them play it shows what they are. They have won the League, we all know what that is, and three Champions in a row. I would like to give credit to what we have done. It has been a game very similar to the one. from the Bernabéu, but much better. “
His accolades show how important this crossover was. Is it like a 'Minichampions' for you ?: “They ask me questions and I answer them. If they ask me about Madrid, I answer about Madrid and, if I say good things it is because I do the ball for them, and, if I say that the League is the most important thing because of what Barcelona has done in For the last eleven years, it is because I am an anti-Madridista. I have met Hierro, Raúl, I have a relationship with Chendo, Camacho has trained me, with Del Bosque I have a not great relationship, but much more, and I have much more respect for that. I can have admiration. I have very good memories with this club and I love to beat them like the greats, like Bayern or Chelsea. “
Bale's situation in Madrid and if it could interest him for City: “You will understand that I am not going to answer this question. I do not know the situation and it would only be missing. We are not interested.”
Vinicius did not heat: “I don't know. Before the game we thought that the three in the middle would be those, that Nacho or Militao would be the one from the second story, and then Asensio, Isco, Valverde could play, Vinicius or Hazard on the left … The fact of that he was able to play on… it would only be necessary for him to give his opinion on what Zizou decides. I'm sure he has decided what is best for his team. “
Confidence in winning the Champions: “We are going to try, like every year. It is not something related to me. Everyone wants to. We are going to try, that's for sure. You are like that by winning Madrid we have reached the final or lifting the trophy, but no, it is time to celebrate it And travel to Portugal. The best way to try is to prepare very well for the matches. I would love to win it, like in Barcelona, and I couldn't at Bayern, but my years there were incredible. It's important for this club to get these mini-victories. Now I'm going to sit and watch as many videos as I can from Lyon and try to find their secrets. “
Go to Portugal relaxed: “When you are in these rounds and the desire of the players is to win and win, the key is to have fun. We are going to prepare incredibly well, for sure. We do not need to spend nine days in Portugal locked in the room waiting for the moment. We can watch movies, get together and, of course, train very well. “
A World-style Champions: “It is very similar, yes. Now each game is a final: either you stay in or you go out. Our next final is against Lyon. We cannot fail.”
Reputation in Europe: “You have to win the title to say 'okay, we have this.' It is a great success to be here. Many big clubs have not played this tournament this year or in previous years and will not play it next year, it is not so easy. I celebrate when we go through groups, there are many great teams that don't make it. It's difficult to be here, we have to enjoy it. Our dream, of course, is to win the title. We have won Madrid, of course it is important, it gives us prestige, credit. This is the first time that Zidane has been eliminated. “
If you feel that your prestige depends on the Champions League: “I don't know. People can judge our work when we finish it and leave. I am not here to judge if it is enough or not. We try, we work hard. That is my happiness, I do everything I can to win the Carabao Cup, Imagine the Champions League. This competition is very difficult. I live in Manchester and I adore the people here, who I work with and like every day, but winning the title, like in Munich, is not going to change my relationship with them. Losing it's part of life and football. There are small details. “
The state of Agüero: “He's still in Barcelona. He's fine, improving, but we don't know if he will come with us to Portugal. Tomorrow I'll talk to the doctors and they will tell me something more precise.”