Man City star arrives at team hotel less than 24 hours before crucial Real Madrid clash – as Pep Guardiola’s side battle to stay in the Champions League
A Manchester City player arrived at the team hotel in Madrid just hours before their crucial Champions League match against Real Madrid, reports from Spain said. The match is vital for Man City as they need to overcome a one-goal deficit after a 3-2 loss at home to Real Madrid last week. Despite Erling Haaland’s brace, Jude Bellingham’s late goal handed Real Madrid the advantage. Man City needs a win at the Bernabeu to advance to the next round, but Pep Guardiola, the manager, stated the team’s chances were just one percent.
While Guardiola and the rest of the squad arrived in Madrid on time, one player, Abdukodir Khusanov, was filmed arriving at the hotel late, around 12:40 am. He was seen wearing a blue hoodie and arriving separately from the rest of the team. Spanish TV show El Chiringuito questioned whether he was alright, but noted he appeared healthy and arrived safely. Khusanov, a recent £33 million signing from Lens, has not yet played in the Champions League but has started in recent Premier League games, including Man City’s 4-0 win against Newcastle.
Guardiola acknowledged that his team would have to play almost perfectly to overcome Real Madrid and keep their European dreams alive. He emphasized that his team must play with courage, be true to their style, and embrace the pressure. In a positive sign for Man City, Haaland, who had suffered a knee injury scare in their recent match against Newcastle, trained normally ahead of the game. Other players who were absent in the weekend’s match, like Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, and Nathan Ake, also traveled with the team. Guardiola confirmed that it was good news that these players were available for the match.
In conclusion, the match against Real Madrid is a do-or-die situation for Manchester City, and while the team faces enormous pressure, Guardiola is hoping his players can rise to the occasion and secure a spot in the Champions League round of 16.
