Guardiola admits lying about Man City s minimal chance against Real

MADRID - Pep Guardiola acknowledged on Tuesday that he was playing mind games with his assessment that Manchester City had only a one percent chance of eliminating holders Real Madrid in the Champions league during their second leg playoff tie.

His team trail after a late collapse saw Real beat them 3-2 at the Etihad in the first leg last week.

On the eve of the clash in Madrid, Real coach Carlos Ancelotti joked with reporters that not even Guardiola believed his earlier downbeat forecast and that he would raise it with him before their sides took the field.

I lied about the one percent chance. For the first time I lied, a grinning Guardiola replied at his press conference.

After the 2-3, nobody gave a penny for us. Its not the best result, but we can do it. Carlo wont have to tell me anything before the game.

With few picking the 2023 champions to upset 15-times Champions League winners Real for a last-16 berth, Guardiola was at least boosted by the presence of leading scorer Erling Haaland at training on Tuesday after he left Saturdays 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle with an apparent knee injury.

Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Jack Grealish also trained after all three missed the win over Newcastle.

Guardiola kept his cards close to his chest on whether any or all will play, saying: They travelled. We will see tomorrow, but it is good news they are here.

NEVER EASY

Guardiola is no stranger to the cauldron of Reals Bernabeu Stadium, saying he has incredibly good memories in the stadium, sometimes good and at times not good.

Never have been easy, he added.

The Spaniard was asked what it will take for his team, who languish fourth in the Premier League after a poor couple