City host Atletico Madrid in the first match of Tuesday’s quarterfinals with Guardiola intending to lead them to a first triumph in the tournament. They reached last season’s final, but the coach was criticized for not selecting a recognized midfielder, leaving his regular left-back, Joao Cancello, and choosing an unacceptable Rahim Sterling, who had played just eight minutes in the semi-final. victory over Paris Saint-Germain. City lost 1-0 to Chelsea, with Cancello’s replacement, Oleksandr Zinchenko, failing to score for Kay Havers when the latter ran to score the winner. Guardiola was also checked for Ilkay Gudogan on the left in Liverpool when City lost 3-0 in the first game of the eight in 2018, played a three-player defense before being eliminated two years ago by Lyon and for the fall of Kevin De Bruyne. at Tottenham 12 months ago, failing to score there and then being eliminated in away goals. Perhaps referring to these defeats, Guardiola gave a harsh response to his critics. “In the Champions League I always think too much,” said the Catalan. “I always create new tactics and ideas, and tomorrow you will see a new one. I think a lot, that’s why I have very good results in the Champions League. I love it. It would be boring if I always played the same way. If people think I will play the same with Atletico and Liverpool [City’s next opponent]Well, I do not think so because the moves from Liverpool are completely different from Atletico – especially because the players are all different. City want to triumph in Europe this season, having fallen into the last hurdle last year. Photo: Matt McNulty / Manchester City FC / Getty Images “Every player has a mother and a father and the mother and father give different personalities to the players. That’s why I like to think too much and create stupid tactics and when we do not win I am punished. Tonight I will be inspired and tomorrow I will make incredible tactics – tomorrow we play with 12 “. Atletico’s tendency to use regular fouls and pressure the referee was evident in the 1-0 win over Manchester United in the final round. However, Guardiola respects the Spanish champions and said he would not worry about using a similar approach. “We have to do the same to defend our position,” he said. “I am not going to judge for a second what they are doing, just try to get a result on Tuesday and then go to Madrid. [for the return leg]. » Guardiola marked a 2-0 victory in the Premier League at United in November. “I do not know what it’s like to play bad. Bernardo [Silva] spent four minutes on the corner at Old Trafford [at the end]. So, we are defending our position. That’s all I’m here to talk about: what we’re trying to play. “I never judge the opponent, what they do and try to do – they try to do it to win.” Guardiola has faced Diego Simeone’s team three times before – when he led Barcelona and Bayern Munich, losing to the last team in the 2016 Champions League semi-finals on away goals. “It was not very often because we do not play in the same country. “We have only met once in the Champions League,” said the 51-year-old. “I think after watching Atletico, there is a misconception about the way he plays. It’s more offensive than people might think. He does not want to take the risk in the build-up, but since he has quality and played very well in the last third. Diego Simeone shouts instructions to his players, with Guardiola in the background, as Atletico knocked out Bayern Munich in 2016. Photo: Michaela Rehle / Reuters “They do not want to take risks, but when the ball is in the middle, the quality of the players they have and how competitive they are… they know it depends on the position of the ball and the movement. They know how to play in these moments. It depends on where the ball is, at the time of the game: win or loss, last minutes or early minutes, start of the second half. “In these moments they are very good.” Silva acknowledged that Atletico is a tough opponent, but he was confident that City would move on. “It’s a very competitive side, very organized with a very specific style of play. “I’m sure it will not be easy for us, but if we follow Pep ‘s plan and do our job, it will work,” said the Portuguese forward. Regarding Silva’s comments, Guardiola said: “I was surprised he said that as we have not talked about it yet. But he knows me – of course I have a plan, but in this competition, I learn that the plan is important; do not give an inch, you defend when you have to, he attacks. “I take responsibility on my shoulders, but I say to the players, ‘You’s the kids who have to win out there.’ “They have done it again and they have to do it again.”
