Containing Real Madrid’s stellar attack ‘impossible’ for whole tie, says Guardiola Pep Guardiola has admitted Real Madrid’s front four of Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo will be impossible for Manchester City to control for the entirety of their Champions League playoff with the holders.
While Bellingham, Vinícius and Rodrygo all started the 2-0 final victory against Borussia Dortmund last year, with the latter two combining for Real’s second goal, Mbappé joined in the summer from Paris Saint-Germain and has scored 22 goals and provided three assists in all competitions already this season.
Guardiola went on to deny there is bad blood between City and Real Madrid after the Spanish club boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris last year in protest over Rodri winning the award over Vinícius.
“It’s impossible for 90 minutes, 180 minutes or 200 minutes – depending on extra time – to control these four players.
City host Real on Tuesday night in the opening leg before the return match at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday.
