Guardiola mentioned Liverpool among three clubs with the intensity to hinder Real Madrid in the Champions League

Pep Guardiola has identified three clubs capable of preventing Real Madrid from clinching the Champions League title after Manchester City’s exit in the play-off round. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti has advised Kylian Mbappe on what he needs to do to reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s level. Real Madrid secured a 3-1 victory over Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg of the Knockout Round playoffs, advancing to the Round of 16 with a 6-3 aggregate win. Having already won the first leg 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium, the Spanish and European champions were in a strong position to progress. Mbappe set the tone early, scoring in the fourth minute. The French forward extended Madrid’s lead with a goal in the 33rd minute before completing his hat-trick in the 61st. Although Nico Gonzalez scored a stoppage-time goal for City, it was merely a consolation. After the match, Guardiola acknowledged Madrid’s superiority, conceding that they were the stronger side. While he recognized them as favourites for the Champions League, he also pointed out that Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona could challenge them. According to Metro, Guardiola stated: “Madrid are always contenders, but there are other strong teams in the competition. It will be an exciting Champions League season. “They have always been favourites for this trophy, but teams like Liverpool, Barcelona, and PSG, under my friend Luis Enrique, are performing very well.” He added: “The best team won. They deserved it. “This season, we haven’t performed as well. In previous years, I felt we were stronger than Madrid, but not this time. “In this competition, quality makes the difference. Madrid dominated possession, played dynamically, pressed well, and showed their pace. “We have to accept this loss, move forward, and focus on the rest of the season. There are still many games ahead. Our goals remain to compete for the FA Cup, secure a top-four finish in the league, and return to the Champions League next season. “I have little to criticize my team for regarding their Champions League performances. In past eliminations against Madrid, we were very close.”