Champions League build-up – Can City overcome ‘Mighty Madrid’?

Online Sports Reporter

Manchester – Manchester City seems to have a “mental block” in the Champions League, says Chris Sutton, as they try to win it for the first time.

City faces Real Madrid in the semi-final for the second year in a row. Last year they lost 6-5 on aggregate. This time it’s 1-1 after the first leg in Spain.

“My feeling always has been this is the one Pep Guardiola was brought in for, the Champions League,” said Sutton, who is co-commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live tonight.

Pep Guardiola

“They’ve been absolutely brilliant but this is the one they really want. They’ve found an incredible way in the last five or six years of getting themselves into good positions in the Champions League and messing it up.

Pep Guardiola

“Tonight is going to be really interesting. Madrid are master of finding a way to win this competition. It’s very difficult to call.

Pep Guardiola

“City will play the way they always play, I just wonder whether in this competition if there is a psychological situation here, a bit of a mental block they don’t have in other competitions.

Pep Guardiola

“They had the game won in Madrid last year before Rodrygo. Pep tinkered too much in the final against Chelsea without a holding midfielder.

Pep Guardiola

“Every season you think City will win it and every year they cruise through their group stages, get to a good position and you think this will be their year. I think they will win it. But based on the last six seasons under Pep, who knows?”

Pep Guardiola

BBC SPORTS