Ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday, manager Pep Guardiola expressed confidence in his exceptional legacy.
As City, aiming for a treble, have yet to claim the European champions title, they secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Bernabeu last Tuesday.
Guardiola, who has previously won the Champions League twice as a manager with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, is determined to add to his impressive track record.
“I have been here many times,” He said,
“My legacy is exceptional already. I’ve told the players to enjoy the moment. I have an incredible feeling about them – whatever happens, thank you so much to them for getting us here again.
“We are going to give everything to win one game to reach the final.”
The eventual victors of the match will go on to compete against either Inter Milan or AC Milan in the final held in Istanbul on Saturday, 10 June.
According to statisticians Opta, Manchester City, who remain undefeated in 22 games, have a 69% probability of reaching the final and a 45% likelihood of winning the tournament, making them the favorites.
Opta suggests that Real Madrid has a 15% chance of securing a record-breaking 15th European championship title. Additionally, Manchester City is on the verge of clinching the Premier League title, their fifth in six years, and will be facing Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
They aspire to replicate Manchester United’s historic achievement of winning the league, cup, and Champions League Treble in 1999. Notably, Guardiola, who previously accomplished the Treble with Barcelona in the 2008-09 season, led Manchester City to the Champions League final two years ago, where they were defeated by Chelsea.
In the previous year’s competition, City suffered a heart-wrenching aggregate loss of 6-5 after extra time in the semi-finals against Real Madrid, despite holding a two-goal lead in the 90th minute.
