Jack Grealish heaps praise on Man City team-mates after Madrid draw
‘I’ve never felt so confident’: Jack Grealish heaps praise on Man City team-mates after Champions League 1-1 draw in Madrid… as he reveals the Cityzens feel ‘unstoppable’ at home ahead of second leg
- City drew 1-1 in Madrid on Tuesday ahead of the return leg in Manchester
- Grealish was pleased with the result and backed his side to win the tie at home
- Carlo Ancelotti was left fuming after City’s goal was allowed to stand
Jack Grealish claimed that Manchester City feel ‘unstoppable’ at the Etihad Stadium after Kevin De Bruyne’s stunning equaliser gave them a Champions League advantage on Tuesday.
De Bruyne struck to cancel out Real Madrid’s opener, scored by Vinicius Jnr, in a pulsating semi-final first leg before next week’s return.
Grealish was bullish about City’s prospects of reaching a second European final in three years when they meet Real again next Wednesday.
‘At the Etihad, we feel unstoppable,’ Grealish said. ‘I think Brentford before the World Cup was the last time we didn’t win at home.
‘It was a good battle, I enjoyed it, Real defended really well. It was an incredible shot from Kevin, we see it everyday in training. You wouldn’t choose anyone else for it to fall to.
Jack Grealish has admitted he has ‘never felt so confident’ in his team-mates as right now
He revealed City feel ‘unstoppable’ at home ahead of their return leg against Real Madrid
City go into the game drawing 1-1 on aggregate after Kevin De Bruyne scored a fine equaliser
‘We’ve learned so much as a team. We have the balance of experience and world-class youngsters. I’ve never felt so confident going on to the pitch with the players around me.
‘We came here to try to win, but it shows our character to go a goal down in a place like this. In the end I think it was a fair result.’
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti did, however, fume at the officiating, claiming that referee Artur Dias was ‘not paying attention’ after being given a yellow card.
Ancelotti was adamant that Bernardo Silva had carried the ball out of play in the build-up to De Bruyne’s goal, insisting that VAR did not check the decision.
‘The ball was off the pitch,’ Ancelotti said. ‘That’s it. Technology said it, beINSport showed it with 3D technology. I don’t understand why VAR didn’t check it. The referee didn’t pay attention to many things tonight.
‘Next week we have to be able to play like we played tonight. They will push a little bit at home. We were in control defensively.’
Pep Guardiola reserved special praise for Kyle Walker and Ederson, with the right back dealing with Vinicius and City’s goalkeeper pulling off some impressive saves.
The Catalan believes he will need to come up with a different plan to make sure City finish the job at home.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been left fuming after the ball went out of play in the build-up to City’s goal
City manager Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has revealed has has ‘a bit of an idea’ of what his side need to do to win the tie
‘We will adjust something to try and find more rhythm,’ he said. ‘We’ll try to win with our people, where we are comfortable. I have a bit of an idea of what we need to do.
‘Vinicius can take us, he has an amazing ability right and left. We’ll watch again and see what happens. But I’m really satisfied with the team.
‘It’ll be a final in Manchester with our people. Now it’s a playoff. We were better tonight. It didn’t surprise me a lot.
‘We were there, we found the goal in that moment. We defended the box really well in general.’
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