Pep Guardiola doesn't smile much when he sits down in front of the Spanish press. The Manchester City coach, who has been away from Spain for a decade, feels more comfortable with local journalists. First at Bayern Munich and for the last seven years at City.
However, he was not as serious as he was a year ago on the eve of the second leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Back then, the controversy with Diego Simeone in the quarter-finals and his visit to Real Madrid's stadium raised the tension to the highest levels.
This year, with home advantage, he was more relaxed. No smiles, but no controversy, thinking only about how to defeat his nemesis in Europe.
His City legacy
"My legacy is already exceptional. [We've been] here many times already, we are not stupid to know how important tomorrow is. Maybe the most important since we've been here. I say to the players, live it, enjoy the moment. How fortunate we are. It's in our hands, depends on us, [we] don't have to do anything exceptional. [We must] be ourselves, give everything. I have an incredible feeling about the team."
Why are Madrid so superior in the Champions League?
"I don't know, if I knew I would try to copy the method. But I would say because they always had players of the highest level. When we won it with Barcelona it was because we had players of a very high level."
Walker says City are indebted to the owners
"You don't have to put so much pressure on yourself. I think the players have done a lot, even though they think they haven't. They just have to play a game of football. They know how good Madrid are and it's a blessing to be here."
Who are favourites?
"I don't know, I'm not able to say that. We are in the knockouts every season and in the end the team that deserves it wins. In my head is to do well and convince the fans that we don't have to do anything different. We have the feeling that we are freer at home and that we play more relaxed. If we are ourselves... I have played ten semi-finals and lost seven. I know the feeling, but there are many things you can't control in the world of football."
The Champions League
"It's a dream come true to be here. Nobody guarantees us to be here, so once we've arrived, let's go for it. And be together in the complicated moments, because we will suffer. I know the fans will be with us. They are not going to leave us alone. In the complicated moments they will be with us."
The atmosphere at the Etihad
"That counts, but ahead in front of us are Real Madrid, who will play a great game. We have to improve on the first leg, try to get more balls forward. We have a lot of respect for Madrid, it's a challenge, and we'll go for it."
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