MADRID — Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Manchester City must elevate their performance to have a chance at winning the Champions League this season, even after delivering a significant home defeat to Real Madrid.
City overcame an initial setback to secure a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, intensifying the scrutiny on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso.
This win felt like a pivotal moment for Guardiola’s team, marking their first away victory at Real Madrid since 2020. However, Guardiola expressed the need for more consistency to truly believe they are viable title contenders.
“We are not ready; we are a work in progress,” Guardiola stated.
“By February, we should be in a better place. We’ve encountered similar situations before, performed well, and still lost. The players put in a solid effort, but there’s plenty of room for improvement.”
“I appreciate the victory, but I’m aware that we must perform better in the later stages.”
On a positive note, the triumph over Real Madrid — which included goals from Nico O’Reilly and a penalty by Erling Haaland — propelled City into fourth place in the Champions League standings.
They are now well-positioned to secure a top-eight finish, avoiding a playoff for the last 16, with two matches remaining against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray in January.
“Winning here is incredibly challenging,” Guardiola noted.
“Four or five players experienced this venue for the first time. To win here is something to celebrate, particularly in terms of points.”
“We have 13 points, and it’s in our hands to secure a top-eight finish. That’s our goal, and winning here after [Bayer] Leverkusen is a positive step.”