Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed that it feels "a little bit weird" to be drawn against Spanish giants Real Madrid once again in the Champions League. The upcoming two-legged last-16 tie will mark the 13th encounter between Manchester City and Real Madrid since Guardiola took charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016. What makes this pairing particularly unusual is that it comes only a little over two months after their last meeting during the league phase of the current Champions League season. Under the previous group-stage format, these two titans would typically have been kept apart until at least the quarterfinals.

Guardiola highlighted the peculiarity of the new format, noting that it's uncommon for a team to face an opponent so soon after a recent league phase match. He cited other instances of immediate repeats in the draw, such as Newcastle versus Barcelona and Galatasaray versus Liverpool, both of which were league phase games. Additionally, Real Madrid faced Benfica in the playoff round after having met them in the last match of the first stage. "Yes, it is a little bit weird," Guardiola stated regarding the format, acknowledging that while people may agree or disagree, it is indeed different.

Despite the unusual scheduling, Guardiola maintains a pragmatic view. He compared the situation to domestic competitions, asking, "In the Premier League and cups how many times have we played against Newcastle this season?" He emphasizes the need to adapt to the evolving structure of the Champions League, noting that when he started, the competition involved fewer teams. He accepts the draw for what it is, remarking, "A Madrid draw is a Madrid draw. What can we do?"

Looking ahead, should Manchester City progress past Real Madrid, they are slated to face either Bayern Munich or Atalanta in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal clash against current holders Paris Saint-Germain. This path appears to place City in what some might perceive as the tougher half of the draw. However, Guardiola firmly rejects this notion, considering it disrespectful to other formidable teams in the competition. He stated, "That would be so disrespectful, for example to Newcastle, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid or Spurs. The Champions League is so difficult." He stressed that while Real Madrid is undeniably a challenging opponent, every team in the Champions League possesses its own "trick" and presents a significant hurdle. Guardiola concluded that to advance in this elite competition, teams must be prepared to defeat the best, as anything less would not be deserving of progression.