“The only adjustment was…” – Pep Guardiola defends Manchester City team selection in Real Madrid drubbing | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed his selection for his side’s 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday night.

The Blues’ hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-final took a massive dent as Federico Valverde‘s first-half hat-trick left Manchester City shell-shocked and struggling for solutions ahead of next week’s return leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side have it all to do back at home in a week’s time as they attempt to pull off a miracle against the most successful team in Europe’s elite club competition amidst their chase of Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Guardiola raised eyebrows with his starting XI on Wednesday night, naming a two-man midfield comprising Bernardo Silva and Rodri as Nico O’Reilly was shifted out to left-back and Matheus Nunes was replaced by Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back to cope with the threat of Vinicius Jr.

How did Pep Guardiola justify his team selection in the first leg against Real Madrid?

Guardiola was happy with some elements of Manchester City’s display against Real Madrid and maintained that the hosts were just far more clinical and ruthless as they put the Blues to the sword.

However, the Manchester City manager stuck by his selection at the Santiago Bernabeu. Asked if he made too many changes to his lineup in the Spanish capital, the 55-year-old said: “No, not much changes. More changes was in Newcastle. In the last games, most of these players played,” in conversation with TNT Sports after the defeat to Real Madrid

“I wanted to be aggressive from the outside, the one-against-ones, especially Jeremy (Doku) – who was outstanding. From the right, we struggled a little bit more. Making movements in-behind and we did it with Antoine (Semenyo), with Nico (O’Reilly) – we arrived many times, to have the sense that we wanted to score a goal, and try to see what happened.

“But they arrived three times in the first-half and scored three goals. We arrived many, many times in the final third – it’s a dream! That’s why they adjusted, they put five in the back, structured so inside. And some transitions were good, sometimes not.”

Why did Pep Guardiola move Nico O’Reilly over to left-back and how did he explain Matheus Nunes’ exclusion?

Matheus Nunes was the only Manchester City player who started last week’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest and maintained his place in the lineup for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round win away at Newcastle United.

However, the Portugal international was named on the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu as Khusanov came in at right-back to provide greater defensive cover against Vinicius Jr. Furthermore, O’Reilly was recalled to left-back despite having spent over a month in midfield alongside Silva and Rodri.

“Listen, how many times did Nico O’Reilly play left-back this season? How many? The only adjustment was (Abdukodir) Khusanov because Vinicius moves in that area and we wanted a guy who doesn’t think much to attack,” Guardiola added in his post-match press conference.

“The rest? (Wingers?) Yeah, injured two months, yeah. And they played incredible; Savinho in Newcastle, Jeremy (Doku) always is an incredible threat. And people with experience, Bernardo (Silva) and Rodri, runners with Nico (O’Reilly) and Antoine (Semenyo) – the sense of goal that all of them have, set-pieces – that was the idea.

“I’ve done it (squad rotation) in Newcastle, nine (actually 10) players different. I understand what I’m saying; the target is wingers to try to drop them, people in the middle in pockets to arrive close to the box, control second structures with experienced players, fast players behind – that was the idea.”

Guardiola and Manchester City turn their attention to a Premier League trip to West Ham at the weekend amid their hunt of league leaders Arsenal – in an attempt to restore confidence in the camp ahead of next week’s monumental Round of 16 return leg against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium.