"We arrive better in terms of where we are with the squad. Last season we arrived with a lot of fatigue and had few players available. When you have everybody fit and playing in a lot of competitions and games, it is better to rotate. Fresh legs and fresh minds."
"City's latest meeting will be their 16th against Los Blancos in the Champions League, twice as often as they have faced any other team in the competition. The Citizens have also been eliminated from the Champions League by Madrid on four occasions, the only side to knock them out more than twice."
Manchester City travels to Real Madrid for their fifth consecutive Champions League meeting, sitting second in the Premier League while competing in the EFL Cup final and FA Cup quarterfinals. This marks their 16th Champions League encounter, twice as frequent as any other opponent. Madrid has eliminated City four times, more than any other team. Despite losing to Madrid in the last two seasons' knockout stages, Guardiola believes City are better positioned this year due to squad fitness and availability. Guardiola will equal Sir Alex Ferguson's record of 190 Champions League matches as a manager. Madrid's defensive record at home in knockout stages remains formidable, with no away team keeping a clean sheet since Barcelona in 2011.
Read at Soccer News
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