“I didn’t expect to win 3-0 or 4-0”

Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, explained that he did not expect to win 3-0 or 4-0 against Atlético de Madrid because he knew who they were up against and the patience they have to defend themselves.

“They are very good at doing this. Many years together. We have conceded very little, Atlético did not expect to win 3-0 or 4-0. I know who we are up against. They have the patience to spend so much time defending and the ability to concede so little “, assured Guardiola in press conference.

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“It was a difficult game. They played 5-5 for much of the game. It was a good result, we had a couple of chances with Kevin, but this result or a 2-0 would also have been a tough result to go to Madrid. I think the second leg will be more like the final 20 minutes today, but if it starts well for them, maybe it will be more like the beginning. It’s going to be a good test for us, of our maturity”, added the coach Spanish.

Guardiola did not want to comment on Atlético’s defense and blurted out “I don’t think about the rivals” when asked if he expected an Atlético more or less defensive than tonight’s.

Regarding Kevin de Bruyne, scorer of the only goal of the match, Guardiola pointed out that he is “in the best moment of the season”, that he is in very good shape and that his influence on the game is “enormous”.