Pep Guardiola has described the new Champions League format as 'weird' after Manchester City were drawn against Real Madrid in the last 16, just months after beating them in the league phase. The two clubs have now met in the competition for five consecutive years, and the new format does not prevent teams who faced each other in the initial league phase from meeting in the first knockout round.
Guardiola suggested the competition should tweak the rules to keep teams who met in the league phase apart in the last 16. 'Yes, it is a little bit weird [to face Real Madrid again],' he said. 'How many times have we played against Newcastle this season? Hopefully we can play against them in the [Champions League] final! Today is different. It is a question of adapting. What can we do?'
The City boss refuted claims that his side is on the easier side of the draw, saying it would be 'disrespectful' to other top teams. 'The Champions League is so difficult. If you want to go through, you have to win against the best teams, otherwise you don't deserve it.'
The winners of the tie will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals, with the final taking place in Budapest at the end of May.
