Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called on his players to control their emotions in their Champions League quarterfinal return leg at Atletico Madrid next week.
Kevin De Bruyne's 70th minute goal earned City a 1-0 win on Tuesday in a game that had several flashpoints, including an incident in which a prone Jack Grealish was struck in the head from close range by a clearance from Angel Correa.
“We have to control our emotions and do what we have to do,” Guardiola told reporters after Tuesday's game. “There will be a referee there and we have to play our game.
"(Atletico) have faced this kind of knockout stages many times and it will be a good test for us with our maturity in this game.
“Jack reacted really well and stayed focused on what we needed to do.”
The Spaniard added that City would not simply look to defend their 1-0 advantage in Madrid and would be looking to kill off the tie.
“We've won the game with 1-0 and after 1-0 it was a little bit different. All the players start to press a little bit higher,” Guardiola said.
“If the game starts on the good side for Atletico, maybe they come back in to the game.
“Now we have five days to prepare and review the game and try to (see) what we can do to attack a bit better and go there to not defend the result and try to win the game.”
Atletico coach Diego Simeone was happy with his side's defending but said they must get a bigger share of possession in the return leg if they are to advance.
“In the first half we defended very well,” Simeone told reporters. “If you value the co-ordinated attacking, you also have to value the strong and unashamed defence.
“We have to improve, improve and try to have more of the ball. That comes with calmness, with the humility of first having a good collective defensive effort to continue in the tie and from there, play.
“I was taught to compete and we seek to compete to the end in any way we can.”
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak said the tie was far from over.
“At 1-0, I don't think the tie is closed,” Oblak said. “In Madrid we are going to have to do much more offensively, defensively we are going to have to be the same or better and only then can we qualify for the semifinals.”
The second leg will be held at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid next Wednesday. Before that, City host Premier League title rivals Liverpool on Sunday. — Reuters
Guardiola says Man City players must keep their cool in Atletico return leg
Image: PHIL NOBLE / REUTERS
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called on his players to control their emotions in their Champions League quarterfinal return leg at Atletico Madrid next week.
Kevin De Bruyne's 70th minute goal earned City a 1-0 win on Tuesday in a game that had several flashpoints, including an incident in which a prone Jack Grealish was struck in the head from close range by a clearance from Angel Correa.
“We have to control our emotions and do what we have to do,” Guardiola told reporters after Tuesday's game. “There will be a referee there and we have to play our game.
"(Atletico) have faced this kind of knockout stages many times and it will be a good test for us with our maturity in this game.
“Jack reacted really well and stayed focused on what we needed to do.”
The Spaniard added that City would not simply look to defend their 1-0 advantage in Madrid and would be looking to kill off the tie.
“We've won the game with 1-0 and after 1-0 it was a little bit different. All the players start to press a little bit higher,” Guardiola said.
“If the game starts on the good side for Atletico, maybe they come back in to the game.
“Now we have five days to prepare and review the game and try to (see) what we can do to attack a bit better and go there to not defend the result and try to win the game.”
Atletico coach Diego Simeone was happy with his side's defending but said they must get a bigger share of possession in the return leg if they are to advance.
“In the first half we defended very well,” Simeone told reporters. “If you value the co-ordinated attacking, you also have to value the strong and unashamed defence.
“We have to improve, improve and try to have more of the ball. That comes with calmness, with the humility of first having a good collective defensive effort to continue in the tie and from there, play.
“I was taught to compete and we seek to compete to the end in any way we can.”
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak said the tie was far from over.
“At 1-0, I don't think the tie is closed,” Oblak said. “In Madrid we are going to have to do much more offensively, defensively we are going to have to be the same or better and only then can we qualify for the semifinals.”
The second leg will be held at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid next Wednesday. Before that, City host Premier League title rivals Liverpool on Sunday. — Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Latest Videos
Most Read
Sport
Sport
Soccer
Rugby
Pages