Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s resilience after they came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, securing a crucial Champions League group-stage victory.
City started poorly and were overwhelmed by Madrid’s early pressure, with Rodrygo putting the hosts ahead.
Guardiola admitted his team were “second best” for the opening half-hour, but Nico O’Reilly’s equaliser settled City before Erling Haaland’s penalty completed the turnaround.
Guardiola said the early goal helped City regain control, and he highlighted Jeremy Doku’s influence in the second half as the winger repeatedly troubled Madrid’s defence.
He noted that despite past performances at the Bernabéu where City played better but failed to win, this time their mentality carried them through.
The City manager stressed that levels must still improve if the team advance to the knockout stages but praised the squad’s attitude, especially the newer players experiencing the Bernabéu for the first time.
City now sit fourth in the group on 13 points, aiming to secure a top-eight finish in their remaining fixtures.