It’s better to go to Madrid after a victory, says Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says City’s emphatic victory over Newcastle United on Saturday can help his players in our midweek trip to Real Madrid.

We go to the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg of our Champions League play-off on Wednesday looking to overturn a 3-2 defeat at the Etihad last Tuesday.

While no-one at the Club is under any illusions about the size of the task that awaits against the 15-time European champions, Guardiola did state on Saturday that the 4-0 defeat of Eddie Howe’s in-form Magpies could boost confidence.

“There are many games that we weren’t playing at our level and the next game we lost. It happened a lot of times,” he began.

“If you ask anybody before that game, we have 1% but as much as we have a chance we will try. That’s for sure.

WATCH: EMBARGO | Pep Guardiola v Newcastle | Man City 4-0 Newcastle

“This season the reality is we have been miles, miles away. If you tell me that we would perform like today and finish 22nd in Champions League, of course not. We would finish higher.

“The results have been poor this season. Just for one game I’m not going to change my opinion.

“We are still not good day by day in terms of being there but it’s better to travel to Madrid with this result.

“The chance is small because the result was not good but as much as we have a chance, we are going to take it and we will see what happens.”

While Omar Marmoush took the headlines for an eye-catching first-half hat-trick on Saturday, the Egyptian was just one of three new signings to impress.

Nico, positioned at the base of the midfield, completed more passes than anyone else on the pitch.

WATCH: City 4-0 Newcastle: Extended highlights

Guardiola said in his post-match press conference that while the midfielder’s versatility is a strength in his game, he will have to be prepared to play that holding role regularly in Rodri’s absence.

“He can play in both positions. In Barcelona he played more as a No.8 - a guy who can arrive in the box and has the ability to dribble.

“When he arrived and we met each other I said to forget about it to play in that position, he has to mentally prepare to play there in front of the defenders.

“The role that Gundo has done, to play in attacking midfielder and holding midfielder, he can do it perfectly too.”

Meanwhile, Abdukodir Khusanov was imperious at the back alongside John Stones.

The duo contained in-form Alexander Isak brilliantly throughout and Pep made sure to praise his resilience after a difficult debut against Chelsea recently.

“It’s not easy what happened against Chelsea, it was not easy for his friends or for Uzbekistan,” he stated.

“Since then didn’t play for the circumstances that Ruben [Dias], Manu Akanji and Nathan [Ake] should play. His composure with the ball was so good and he is so fast to run back with Isak.

“Decision making has to improve but it’s a question of age. He’s settled really good. He’s so shy and doesn’t talk much.

“Same with Nico and Vitor, they are so young. For the next years we have players that Manchester City can develop to perform well.”