Guardiola Commends Man City 4-0 Victory Over Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola, manager of Real Madrid, remarked on Wednesday that Manchester City were properly prepared for their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, with the right blend of tranquillity and tension.

The English champions annihilated the holders 4-0 to secure a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Manchester City will face Inter Milan in the final, where they will attempt to win European club soccer’s most coveted trophy for the first time.

It was delicious retribution following a devastating semi-final loss to Real Madrid a year ago.

Real Madrid eliminated Manchester City from the Champions League a year ago, 6-5 on aggregate, after an incredible late comeback.

“I had the feeling these last days that we had a mix of calm and tension to play these types of games.”

“And after 10 or 15 minutes, I had the feeling that all the pain that we had, what happened last season . . . it was really tough, losing the way we lost and I think at the moment we had to swallow poison,” Guardiola told reporters.

“In sport, obviously you have another chance and when the draw was Madrid, I said, ‘Yeah, I want it’,” Guardiola said.

Bernardo Silva netted a first-half double to put City in control and, after Erling Haaland failed to convert two gilt-edge chances, Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez completed the rout.

Real Madrid arrived with history on their side as title-holders and record 14-times European champions.