Pep Guardiola: Man City boss compares football season to NBA as club prepare for Real Madrid reunion - 'We destroyed the casino'

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Pep Guardiola is refusing to believe momentum has shifted significantly in the Premier League title race after three victories saw Manchester City close the gap on leaders Arsenal to two points. The Catalan is now eager to get City's UEFA Champions League campaign back on track following the surprise home loss to Bayer Leverkusen. Watch Real Madrid vs Man City live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Guardiola disagrees with notion of 'momentum shift' at top of Premier League table

Video credit: TNT Sports

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is familiar by now with the relentless beast that is English football culture.

He is accustomed to the hectic festive schedule, the long throw-ins, even the narratives that can hinge on one result.

There is very little left in this game that can surprise him, nor time to celebrate. Barely had the lights been switched off on Saturday at Etihad Stadium when the focus returned to matters in the UEFA Champions League, and another date with Real Madrid.

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Having arrived in the Spanish capital ahead of Wednesday's game - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - the City boss was reminded of how his side's impressive 3-0 victory over Sunderland had closed the gap on Arsenal to just two points in the Premier League.

In keeping with Mikel Arteta's calm persona when reflecting on The Gunners' first defeat in 18 matches, Guardiola refused to be drawn into any thought that the momentum had swung in City's favour - comparing the demands now placed on his players as being akin to a lengthy NBA basketball campaign.

"Listen, when you talk about the NBA, you play 80 games," he exclusively told TNT Sports. "There are a lot of games they lose, and nothing happens. It's a question of the process.

Pep Guardiola bristled at suggestions momentum is now with Man City in the Premier League title race

Image credit: Getty Images

"Here in the European culture, like in basketball and football, we lost in the Premier League two weeks ago [against Newcastle United], and now all of a sudden we're the candidates [to win the Premier League again]?

"It's fine, but you are completely wrong. Not because you have to talk about there being a 'momentum', because of course the broadcasters pay a lot my salary, and the salaries of all of us, and that's why you have to do it.

"I understand completely, but at the beginning of December, no one is crowned champions.

"Of course, I can tell you that I prefer to be two points behind Arsenal than 12 points behind - that is obvious. Always when you are at the top of the league, when you are close, it's better.

"[In the Champions League] it's a pity we lost against Leverkusen, because we would have been second in the Champions League behind Arsenal, and been second in the Premier League.

Highlights: Inspired Leverkusen capitalise on Man City changes to seal shock win

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"We have players that are growing, and that's cool. That's the way I'm thinking about it. We can't be thinking [what it means] if we lose this weekend to Crystal Palace.

"Is it because we are tired, is it because we are distracted, because they are incredible? If we lose, is Man City's season over? Is the team not the same as before?

"Of course, we are not the same. We destroyed the casino in the past few years, so it's normal that our benchmark, our standards are so high... but we are there.

"The important thing is to be there and to grow. Every month has to be better than the previous one. That is the important thing."

Pep: I've learned to control emotion of these games

Returning to the Bernabeu evokes so many memories for Guardiola. Long before his time as Manchester City boss, a special rivalry was forged.

Thirteen victories, six draws and eight defeats is how his record reads since hanging up his boots.

One of his proudest moments came during his first season as Barcelona head coach when the Liga title was effectively sealed when his side defeated Real Madrid 6-2 on their own patch.

Real Madrid v Manchester City highlights – UEFA Champions League action as thriller ends in draw

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Perhaps most painfully, it was while at Bayern Munich that the 54-year-old suffered the first of those losses since ending his playing career, a 1-0 reverse in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals during the 2013/14 season.

His City reign has seemingly been forever punctuated by reunions. On Wednesday, Guardiola will again take up his place in the away dug-out, ahead of his 28th meeting as a manager against his old foes.

In total, including knockout ties, this will be the 11th meeting between City and Madrid in just over five years.

"I could have a box here," Guardiola joked, puffing out his cheeks when recalling his countless visits on an away coach down the Paseo de la Castellana.

A fifth season in a row, it might be, but the surprise 2-0 home defeat by Bayer Leverkusen on matchday five has placed more of a knockout feel to what Guardiola describes as being "only one of eight" league matches.

Under-pressure Alonso ready to face 'all the challenges' at Madrid

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While there is not necessarily the acute sense of jeopardy in which this fixture has been played out over the past half-decade, Guardiola is eager to keep City firmly in control of their Champions League destiny - as well as his emotions in check.

"I was a ball boy in Barcelona, I was a Barcelona fan, and I have an incredible affection for both Bayern Munich and Man City," he continued when asked if a victory over Madrid is sweeter than most.

"You can imagine, after one decade there [for Barcelona], what incredible memories I have.

"I played there a lot, so I know exactly what I feel, and I control my emotions a little bit better than before."

Guardiola is winless in the most recent four against Real Madrid, and has never gone five in succession without beating them.

'One of the best performances of the season' - Guardiola on Man City's 3-0 win over Sunderland

Video credit: SNTV

So would winning at the Bernabeu this time be viewed as a statement?

"For how many weeks? Tell me. Only until the next game," he says.

"We missed an opportunity against Leverkusen, but now we don't know... we have three games left. We have to collect as many points as possible to qualify for the last eight.

"Last February showed what can happen, so we have to arrive at that point next year in the best shape possible.

"In the decisive moment in the Champions League, we had 13 injuries. It's so difficult to sustain and maintain, every three days. You need all the players.

"Two or three weeks ago, they topped the league, but Madrid is always Madrid. If someone asks me what the momentum is of that [surrendering their lead to Barcelona], don't trust in that. I know the reality of the team and this competition, how tough it will be.

"Madrid have never signed a bad player. Never, ever. I've never seen a bad player. How they connect, it's a question of time."

Silva not drawn to early mind games in title chase

Bernardo Silva, like Guardiola, is not the sort of character to be overly affected by one result, good or bad.

His nine seasons alongside his manager have taught him to be the Catalan's midfield mouthpiece on the field.

"I've had a lot of experience in these title races, and it's too early to say [who will win]," Silva told TNT Sports when also asked about the significance of last weekend's Premier League results. "It's still a very long season. It's up to us to focus on our performance.

Silva grabs Man City's second with 'well crafted' goal after 'woeful' defending

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"It's not about looking at Arsenal, Chelsea or whoever. When we went seven points behind after losing to Aston Villa, everyone said we lost the league, but now Arsenal have drawn two games and lost one. Now, we're favourites again.

"I don't like to play those games. I'm not discounting other teams, but both us and Arsenal will drop more points. It's up to us to perform well."

Such a measured perspective is precisely how Silva views Real Madrid's current predicament.

Pressure has been mounting on head coach Xabi Alonso after just two wins in his past seven outings, with his side losing 2-0 at the Bernabeu to Celta Vigo last weekend to slip four points behind Barcelona at the summit.

The visit of Guardiola's City offers Alonso the opportunity to put forward his case as still being the right man to guide Madrid towards the ultimate goal of a 16th European title, and Silva knows he will be faced by formidable opponents in spite of their domestic travails.

Madrid players are 'always' supporting 'great coach' Alonso

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I would say form probably doesn't matter as it's a special team," he added. "In terms of how they react in these moments, they're not like a normal team.

"Of course, they care that they lost their last game, but they have the capability to switch off and know this is now a different game.

"On the biggest stage, they always perform well, and so we expect them to be at the highest level."

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