Guardiola legacy 'already exceptional' as Man City prepare for Real Madrid

Spaniard yet to lift Champions League trophy with English club as they take on Spanish side in semi-final second leg on Wednesday

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City go into the Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium all square after drawing 1-1 draw in Spain. Getty

Pep Guardiola insists his legacy at Manchester City is “already exceptional” as they head into Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.

The match is delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg in Spain as City look to win European football's elite competition for the first time.

Guardiola's side are in the hunt for a historic treble this season with the fifth Premier League title in six years almost secured and an FA Cup final against Manchester United booked in for June 3.

The Spaniard has also won one FA Cup and four League Cups since taking over as manager in 2016. The Champions League is the one trophy missing from the cabinet but Guardiola – who won the competition twice while Barcelona coach – does not believe his legacy should be damaged by not lifting it.

“I have been here many times,” he said. “My legacy is exceptional already. I have told the players to enjoy the moment – we are incredibly lucky to be here.

“It's in our hands, it depends on us, we don't have to do something exceptional – just win one game to reach the final.

“I have an incredible feeling about them. Whatever happens – thank you so much to them for bringing me and the City fans here again.

“The legacy is that we've had one hell of a time and for many years they [the fans] will remember a generation of players who for five or six years, scored lots of goals and conceded very few, and that we won lots of things and won very well, and people should remember that. It would be a good book.

Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 1: Player ratings

REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 8. Produced three vital saves but was powerless to stop De Bruyne's stunning strike. A top performance from a top goalkeeper. Reuters

Dani Carvajal - 6. Engaged in a feisty tussle with Grealish, and while the fullback battled hard to contain the City winger, Grealish carved out some good openings down his flank. EPA

David Alaba - 7. Produced a superb goal-saving block on Haaland to preserve Real Madrid's lead and played his part in keeping the Norwegian striker quiet at the Bernabeu. Getty

Antonio Rudiger - 8. A trademark Rudiger performance. Made himself a nuisance, timed his tackles superbly and alongside Alaba nullified the threat of Haaland. EPA

Eduardo Camavinga - 9. Again deployed at left-back and again thrived in his new position. Excellent defensively to keep Silva quiet and created Vinicius' goal with a brilliant drive up the pitch. What a talent. Getty

Federico Valverde - 7. Ran all night and played his part in an absorbing midfield battle. Showed great skill to skin Akanji but his cross was poor. EPA

Toni Kroos - 6. An awful challenge on Gundogan rightly earned the German a booking and he was the least effective of Real Madrid's midfield three. EPA

Luka Modric - 7. Silky first-time one-two with Camavinga launched the Real attack for the Vinicius goal and displayed his usual brilliant array of passing. EPA

Vinicius Junior - 9. Scored one of the goals of the tournament with a thunderbolt into the top corner. Always looked dangerous when on the ball with his pace and trickery. AP

Rodrygo - 6. After his starring role in the Copa del Rey final, it was a quieter performance from the Brazilian. EPA

Karim Benzema - 6. Led the line well as usual but didn't pose much of a goal threat. His best chance came with a header which Ederson palmed away. EPA

SUBS: Marco Asensio (Rodrygo 81') - N/A. Little time to make much of an impact. Getty

Aurelien Tchouameni (Kroos 84') - N/A. Had a chance to restore Real's lead late on but his rasping effort was well saved by Ederson. Reuters

Nacho (Modric 87') - N/A. Brought on to provide fresh defensive legs for the final few minutes. AP

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 8. Similar to his Real Madrid counterpart, produced several big saves but had no chance against Vinicius' wonderstrike. AFP

Kyle Walker - 7. Had his hands full against the brilliant Vinicius but embraced the challenge, using his pace and strength against the Brazilian in a fascinating battle. AP

Ruben Dias - 7. Rarely troubled defensively and kept Benzema largely quiet for most of the match. AFP

Manuel Akanji - 7. The least convincing, defensively, of the City backline but linked up well with Grealish down the left side. Reuters

John Stones -7. Another solid showing in defensive midfield from Stones, who partnered effectively with Rodri to help City control the midfield. PA

Rodri - 8. Superb display from the Spaniard. Ran the midfield and won the ball back on the edge of the Madrid area to start the move for De Bruyne's equaliser. Getty

Bernardo Silva - 6. Always provided an outlet on the right flank and produced his usual exquisite touches, but found it tough against the exceptional Camavinga. Getty

Kevin de Bruyne - 9. Had a great chance to score but his close-range effort was blocked by Courtois. Made no mistake from the edge of the box, though, as the Belgian fired in City's equaliser. Perhaps didn't command the game as he usually does but it didn't matter as his goal hands City the advantage in the second leg. Getty

Ilkay Gundogan - 8. Heavily involved and took plenty of punishment, it was the German's smart hold-up play and layoff which assisted De Bruyne's goal. Reuters

Jack Grealish - 7. Clearly enjoyed his battle with Carvajal and generally got the better off the fullback. AFP

Erling Haaland - 5. Much of the build-up focused on City's record-breaking striker but he was kept quiet by Madrid's defenders. Would be no surprise if he has a bigger impact in the second leg. AFP

“Whether or not they will remember us I don't know, but we have had a good time.”

City's dreams were shattered by a stunning late Madrid fightback when the sides met in last season's semi-final. But this time Guardiola's men crucially have home advantage in the second leg and boast a formidable record at the Etihad.

They have not lost at home in the Champions League for five years and have won all 14 games on home soil in 2023.

But they are taking on the reigning champions and a club that has won the title five times in the last nine seasons

“The emotion is there and will be high, it has to be high, but just this is not going to beat a team like Real Madrid,” added Guardiola.

“We need a bit better game plan, to adjust a little bit, create more chances for our strikers.

“We play against Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League, the toughest opponents. It's a challenge but we go for it.

“We arrive really good. We're in the FA Cup final, one game from the Premier League [title], but we have to play better than Madrid. We have to perform well, not just have the desire.”

City are again without defender Nathan Ake due to a hamstring injury but otherwise have a fully-fit squad.