“We’ll see on Tuesday” – Pep Guardiola doubles down on Real Madrid selection ahead of West Ham trip | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended his selection choices in a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in midweek ahead of Saturday’s trip to face West Ham.

The Blues’ hopes of progressing to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final suffered a huge dent as Federico Valverde‘s first-half hat-trick left City and Guardiola with a mountain to climb in the return leg of the Round of 16 tie next week.

City remain in the hunt of a fifth Premier League title in six seasons as they look to cut down Arsenal‘s seven point lead at the top of the table, starting with a trip to face West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday night.

Guardiola drew criticism for meddling with his starting XI at the Santiago Bernabeu in midweek, uncharacteristically deploying a midfield duo of Bernardo Silva and Rodri and moving Nico O’Reilly from midfield to left-back.

How has Pep Guardiola reflected on his selection against Real Madrid ahead of West Ham?

In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola spoke at length about his lineup from Wednesday’s crushing loss in the Spanish capital and assessed his side’s chances of pulling off a miraculous comeback next week at the Etihad Stadium.

“We are used to, from many years, living these kind of situations. So, next one,” the 55-year-old said on how Manchester City can pick themselves back up and go again as they embark upon a season-defining run of fixtures in the next month.

“With (team) selections, always I think what is best for the team,” Guardiola added as he pointed out that his team selections draw praise when Manchester City win and invite criticism when they don’t work out.

When probed on confidence within the camp ahead of a series of monumental games across multiple fronts, the Manchester City manager said: “Every game is… now there are no second chances.”

Does Pep Guardiola believe Manchester City can progress to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final?

On if his side can pull off a comeback against Real Madrid, Guardiola added: “West Ham. Now it’s West Ham and after, we have time to think about it. Not much dollars from the bank bet on us (to come back against Real Madrid), so we’ll see on Tuesday.”

Guardiola was then asked how he can motivate his players to give their all in every game and as such, not focus solely on the Real Madrid return leg. “I’ve lost many times in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, many, many, many times,” he said.

“I’ve been massacred on decisions and what happened. It’s not my first time. At the same time, still I’m here in this position and until the last day.

“I can argue the decision on the team selection (against Real Madrid). I will not convince you because we lost. If the argument was before, I could understand. But it’s not about… what was the question?”

Why did Manchester City struggle in the Round of 16 first leg against Real Madrid?

Dissecting the midweek defeat in the Spanish capital, Guardiola added: “I have an opinion about the game in Madrid and it’s not going to be changed – and we did very, very good things. And the other ones, we could be better, yeah of course.

“The first 19, 20 minutes (against Real Madrid) before the first goal was exceptional, one of the best we have played there (at the Santiago Bernabeu) in terms of, ‘We come here to make a threat’. And we were threatening! But after that, the emotions come.”

Guardiola and City need to recover the momentum that was brutally taken away from them by Alvaro Arbeloa and co in midweek as they switch their attention to the Premier League title race and look to keep up the pressure on Arsenal by taking all three points from West Ham this weekend.