MUNICH — Bernardo Silva said Manchester City are looking to make amends for last season’s semifinal defeat to Real Madrid when the two teams meet again in the final four of the Champions League.
Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena, a result which saw them go through 4-1 on aggregate. That match means City have teed up a re-match of last season’s semifinal — a tie the Spanish side won 6-5 on aggregate after a dramatic second-leg comeback.
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Silva was asked post-match by BT Sport whether he’s hopeful of getting revenge against Real Madrid, and answered: “Hopefully yes! We will go for it definitely. We always go for it, but we feel the team is very, very confident at the minute. I think we are going through.”
Pep Guardiola will first try to get his team ready for Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal with Sheffield United before then facing Arsenal in Manchester next Wednesday in a crucial Premier League matchup. But he will also be planning for the semifinal against Real Madrid and he praised his team as they booked a spot in the final four for the third season running.
“I am so happy to be three in a row semifinals in a row,” Guardiola said. “The result 4-1 did not show what the games were like. I could not expect differently — for how good Bayern Munich are [with their] physicality, ideas. I am impressed when I play against them.”
Erling Haaland scored City’s goal in the second-half to secure the tie, but he missed a first-half penalty and Guardiola said the prolific young striker will “learn” from the experience as there was a two-minute gap between the penalty being awarded and his blasting it over the bar.
The former Borussia Dortmund star will be key when City face Real Madrid in the final four and Guardiola said the Spanish champions are the benchmark when it comes to winning the competition.
