Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been questioned over his team selection against Real Madrid. City took on Real in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday. Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero were both surprise omissions from the starting XI by Guardiola.
Man City news: Joe Hart has questioned Pep Guardiola's team selection vs Real Madrid (Image: GETTY/BT SPORT)
“But there’s method to his madness, he trains with the guys every day, I’m sure he feels that this is the team that’s going to set up the tie for the Etihad. Whether it does or whether it doesn’t, we’ll see.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was working alongside Hart for BT Sport.
Ferdinand was made aware of the statistic that Guardiola has only won six of his 26 Champions League knockout matches away from home as a manager.
And he says it is about time the Spaniard added to the wins he had in the competition with Barcelona.
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“When you lay down the stats it does sound like ‘Wow, what’s happened there?’,” Ferdinand said.
“We wouldn’t associate that with Pep Guardiola immediately.
“But listen, there’s no doubting or getting away from the fact that he is one of the top two or three coaches on the planet.
“He’s a genius, he’s a maverick, he’s somebody who’s very innovative in his thoughts and philosophy on the game. So as a coach it’s undoubted what he is.
Man City news: Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero started on the bench vs Real Madrid (Image: GETTY)
“But again, you’ve got to win, you’ve got to continue winning the Champions League, it’s been something that’s alluded him since he’s been gone from Barcelona.”
City are set to miss out on winning a third successive Premier League title as they currently sit 22 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool.
But Guardiola was still confident ahead of the trip to Real on Wednesday.
“I know this is a big opportunity in the last 16. We are playing the king of this competition, so we know the challenge in front of us,” Guardiola said.
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“Consecutive (league) titles shows how good this team is.
“They (Real) are the best and it’s a huge challenge for us to meet them.
“We are convinced that we want to play against them, win and be the level of this competition.”