Pep: City will need courage and the perfect game to overhaul Real Madrid | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says City will have to play with courage and deliver the perfect game if we are to secure a famous victory at Real Madrid in Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg tie.

City will step out at the Bernabeu on the back of being edged out 3-2 in last week’s first leg at the Etihad.

It means it will represent the toughest of tasks with Real not only the reigning European champions but also the 15 times record Champions League victors.

Asked at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference what it would take to claim the result to guide City into Friday's last 16 draw, the boss was unequivocal in his response.

“You have to make an almost perfect game, obviously,” Guardiola asserted.

“The result is not the perfect situation. We have to attack and score goals, this is the idea.

“We will have to play an almost perfect game to go through.

“It’s the same going to Arsenal or Liverpool right now or Barcelona, the big teams qualified for the top eight, it is quite similar.

WATCH: Watch: City train before flying to Madrid

“It will be tough going away. Especially after the result we took in the first game.

“[We must] Play with courage. Be yourself. I learned that as a young player when we didn’t get results.

“Play with incredible courage and play to win the game, otherwise always you can lose but you must be yourself.

“When we did well here it is because we played to win the game. We have no alternative because of the result in the first leg.”

The boss also delivered a positive update in terms of squad options.

Jack Grealish, who was forced off after half an hour of last week’s first leg, trained earlier today and has travelled out to Spain.

So too has Erling Haaland who came off in last Saturday’s Premier League win against Newcastle while Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias both also trained and were part of the travelling squad.

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“Yes, they travelled. We will see tomorrow but it’s good news they are here obviously,” Pep added.

“Jack was able to play a really good game in the FA Cup [at Leyton Orient] but after he doesn’t have the consistency to play three games a week, he was not able to do it.

“Hopefully now he is able for the last few months of the season he can get it.”

Real Madrid v City app coverage

Our official app allows you to follow all of the action from Madrid in one place.

Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, whilst our Matchday Live show will begin at 18:45 (UK).

David James and Steve Howey are the special guests on the latest Matchday Live show, offering their expert insight before the game, at half-time and in greater detail after the final whistle.

During the game you can listen to live audio commentary from Alistair Mann and Nicky Weaver, while our text commentary continues.

Make sure to have push notifications turned on as well, so you can be alerted to key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and the team news.

Highlights from the match, as well as a full-match replay [with a CITY+ subscription] will also be available in the UK from midnight and at 23:00 on Thursday around the world.