Pep Guardiola is looking forward to facing Real Madrid, the team known as the dominant force in the UEFA Champions League, in the quarterfinals.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Real Madrid as the “kings” of the UEFA Champions League ahead of their quarter-final clash. City, who won the competition for the first time in 2023, defeated the 14-time winners 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals last year. However, they were knocked out by Madrid in the previous season in a thrilling encounter at the Bernabeu.

Guardiola, who previously managed Barcelona, is relishing the challenge of facing his countrymen once again. He described it as a tradition to face the team that has won 14 Champions League titles for three consecutive years. Guardiola remains optimistic about City’s chances but acknowledges the strength of their opponents.

City will travel to the Bernabeu for the first leg and host Madrid at the Etihad Stadium for the second leg. Guardiola dismissed the notion that playing at home second gives them an advantage, emphasizing that the draw is beyond their control. He believes that two good performances are required to progress to the next round.

Despite City’s recent success in the Champions League, Guardiola believes that Madrid’s history in the competition makes them the standard bearers. He downplayed his side’s prospects and stated that they are content to be competing in the latter stages. Guardiola refuses to underestimate any team left in the competition, including Real Madrid.

For City, reaching the quarter-finals is still a relatively new experience, while it is a regular occurrence for Madrid. Guardiola highlighted the consistency of his team in recent years but acknowledged that playing in the latter stages means facing the best teams in Europe. He expressed excitement and gratitude for being in the competition and emphasized its special nature.