Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Monday gave his honest opinion about his side’s UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Carlo Ancelotti‘s Real Madrid, the first leg of which will take place on Tuesday.

Speaking at his pre-match conference on Monday, the Spaniard emphasized that City had to be on their A game to stand a chance against UCL veterans Madrid, saying, “We have to be so precise against them.”

Guardiola went on to acknowledge that Real Madrid were royalty when it came to European football, but added that history would not alter the outcome of Tuesday’s match.

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“The history is there – we cannot change it but it’s 11 v 11. The players will decide this. We are playing a team who have been here many times, that’s why they have this history and we don’t,” the Spaniard said.

“If we have to compete with history we don’t have any chance, they are better, it speaks for itself. But we have the desire to play against them and take on this incredible test and we want to improve,” he added.

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“We can’t imagine what is going to happen but it’s 11 v 11 so it is about how the players move, how strong they are mentally, that will make the difference. Carlo and myself won’t win it. The players will,” Guardiola further said, downplaying Madrid’s stellar record in the UCL.

Despite the pressure, however, Guardiola emphasized that he wanted his players to enjoy the match first and foremost, saying, “I said to the players: ‘Enjoy it, prepare for the game. It could be once in a lifetime [experience], nobody knows.’ There is no sense to not enjoy it, we want to be ourselves.”

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While the Spanish tactician has brought home three Premier League titles since becoming Manchester City’s manager in 2016, a UCL trophy has thus far evaded Guardiola’s grasp, despite City being in the final last season.

Guardiola and his men, who are in blistering form, will be hoping that this year is different as they look to win both the Premier League and the Champions League.

The first-leg of semi-final will be played at the Etihad on Tuesday, April 27, while the second leg will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, May 4.