Pep Guardiola on ‘exceptional’ Real Madrid forwards, sacked in the morning chants and Champions League form | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola warned his Man City squad that they will have to be at their very best to deal with Real Madrid’s “exceptional” forward line.

City host Real Madrid tomorrow in the first leg of their Champions League play-off to qualify for the round of 16.

Madrid boast a stacked attacking line-up which includes Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe, and Guardiola admits there is only so much his side can do to deal with them.

“It’s impossible in 90/120/200 minutes to control these players,” he said.

“They are exceptional – how they combine, the runners, the ability one against one, how they keep the ball, all four are exceptional.

“Everybody knows it, so you have to reduce that involvement as much as possible, knowing that it’s going to happen, accept it.”

Man City overcame a difficult FA Cup challenge against League One Leyton Orient on Saturday, coming from behind to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Rico Lewis and Kevin De Bruyne.

The Orient fans took delight in their team’s shock lead against the reigning Premier League champions, taunting Guardiola with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”.

But the Spaniard says he is not worried about that prospect.

“No,” he said when asked if he is concerned about his future.

“I don’t know if a doctor will be asked about his position like this.

“I am here because of what I have won in previous seasons. I don’t think I am going to be thrown out onto the street.”

City face a round of 32 tie after finishing 22nd in the league stage of the competition and Guardiola admits facing Real Madrid is no less than his side deserve.

“We play the second game away because we were not good enough in the group stage,” he said.

“We didn’t deserve it [to go straight through to the last 16].

“The team, our team, has something special and hopefully tomorrow we can prove it.”