Manchester City will travel to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium to face Atletico de Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final after taking a 1-0 lead in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium last week. The Premier League champions will enter this game on the back of a 2-2 draw in their title decider against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

It wasn’t until Pep Guardiola had introduced Phil Foden in the second half that there was some spark about Man City. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne made the difference between the two sides, breaking the deadlock in the second half. It was very difficult for Guardiola’s men to break down Atletico’s resilient defence that they’re famous for.

The second leg might be different since Diego Simione needs at least one goal to make things level against Manchester City, and he will have the support of the home fans this time round.

In the pre-match press conference, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said that the second leg will be different as Atleti will be at home, but the Premier League champions intend to win the game.

“We travel with a sure result and intention to win the game. We try to see what the score is in the last five, ten minutes. It will be different from the first because they are at home and create momentum with their own game and the passion of their fans and the history they have,” he said.

Atletico de Madrid are known to sit back, frustrate teams, and play on the counter aggressively with the pace of Joao Felix, and the physicality of Luis Suarez. They can be a real threat in transitions. Guardiola said that Atleti will look to create problems, but City will play their way as they’ve been doing.

“There will be moments when they are aggressive and create problems. We have to play our game. We have done these years. You have to finish with 11 in the knockout stages. The message will not for one second be different to what we have done all the time. Be careful in situations, defend well. Control the transitions which are really good. All the stuff we prepared – we need to do it as well as possible,” he said.

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Manchester City defender Ruben Dias who won the Premier League Player of the Year last season has been out since March when he picked up an injury in the game against Peterborough. Pep Guardiola said that the Portuguese will travel with the squad as he did one training session with the group, but won’t start the game.

“He makes one training session and six weeks off. The fact he’s back is incredible and we have a big schedule until the end of the season. Everyone will be important,” he said.

“He travels with us, the rest are fit. He did one training session after six weeks off. It is premature, but the fact he is back with the schedule we have is good. Everyone will be important and Ruben is,” he added.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was all praise for midfielder Kevin De Bruyne after he scored the opener in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

“A great intuition to find spaces, he deserves all the praise he gets. The goal was down to his great quality. He’s an amazing player to attack space if it’s huge or reduced,” he said.

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho said that he will leave at the end of the season. Pep Guardiola said that the club will see what happens at the end of the season, and that he will speak to the Brazilian.

“We will see what happens at the end of the season. I don’t know what is going to happen. Fernandinho, I’ve said so many times, is so important to me. I will talk to him,” he said.

Atletico de Madrid have made it through the next round of the UEFA Champions League two of their previous three times after losing the first leg. Simione’s men have not won a home game in the UCL since October 2020, drawing 4 and losing 3 games in the process. The defending La Liga champions are entering this game on the back of a 1-0 loss away to Mallorca, sitting in fourth in the league.

Pep Guardiola said that they will try and win as they’re well prepared.

“How to defend areas, what to do in certain areas, how to hurt them. Control the transitions they will make. All the stuff we prepared. Do it as well as possible.” he said.

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