Lyon will face the French next Saturday in the quarter-finals
Guardiola: Beating the adults is a way for City to be crowned "Champions"
Man City coach Guardiola. A.F.B.
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Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola expressed his great happiness with the decision to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the day before yesterday, at the expense of the holder of the record titles in the tournament, the Spanish team Real Madrid after he repeated in front of him the result of the first leg of the final itself (2-1), taking advantage of Fatal defensive mistakes in the ranks of Real, especially from French defender Rafael Varane.
Guardiola said that "winning over the adults is a way for City to win the title of champions," noting that these big challenges are ahead of old teams that make City a hero team in the most important European competition, which is still difficult to do so today.
And Guardiola added in the press conference after the match: "It is just a step, and if we think that this is enough, we will appear as a small team. If you want to crown you must win over the big teams."
And about the French confrontation Lyon in the quarter-finals next Saturday, he said: “I spoke with the players watch department (about Lyon) and they advised me to be on standby. We have eight days to prepare before the confrontation. We will enjoy this victory and then start thinking about the Lyon match. ”
After a halt since March due to the outbreak of the new Corona virus, the European Football Champions League has resumed its activities behind closed doors, and although the current Real Madrid is different from what it was when the activity stopped in March, it was unable to benefit from the high morale caused by the removal of the Catalan rival Barcelona From the throne of the domestic league, and fell again against City after losing the first leg at home.
The Italian Juventus situation was not better than Real, as it was unable to turn the table at its French guest Lyon and bid farewell to the competition despite winning 2-1 with the double of former Real Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, for losing 1-0. City will meet Lyon in the quarter-finals at the "Jose Al-Fardi" stadium in Lisbon.
Man City's goals came through Raheem Sterling (9) and Brazilian Gabriel Jesus (68), while Frenchman Karim Benzema (28) scored the Royal Club goal. The two goals were behind Jesيزs, taking advantage of two fatal mistakes by the Real Varane defender, as he made the first for Stirling, and the second scored himself.
Sterling said in a press statement: "It is a competition in which we want to excel, and therefore we have made a great effort and played with passion. If we make double efforts, the results will come."
He added, "We pressed and managed to score two goals," noting that he is very proud of scoring his 100th goal for his team, promising more.
Real managed to equalize when Rodrygo passed a perfect ball into the area for Benzema.
• City Jess striker made the first goal for Stirling and scored the second, and on both occasions he took the ball from Real defender Varane.
City's journey in the European Champions
1969: Exit from the first round.
■ 2012: Elimination from the group stage.
■ 2013: Exit from the group stage.
■ 2014: Farewell by Barcelona from the Round of 16.
■ 2015: Exit at the hands of Barcelona in the Round of 16.
■ 2016: Elimination by Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
■ 2017: Farewell tournament from the Round of 16 against Monaco, France.
■ 2018: Exit from the competition in the quarter-finals against Liverpool.
■ 2019: Farewell tournament at the hands of Tottenham from the quarter-finals.
■ 2020: Continuing in the competition after qualifying to the quarter-finals to face Lyon.
Zidane: We lost from a good team
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he was disappointed after the team's exit from the Champions League round of 16, but he stressed at the same time in the press conference: “We have to accept that we lost to a good team, and I am proud of what we have presented during this season. ».
It should be noted that it was Zidane's first defeat in a knockout match in the Champions League, since the beginning of his career as Real Madrid's coach.
Zidane added after the match: “We cannot be happy. We lost the match and went out. This is football. ”