Pep Guardiola ahead of Champions League clash with Real Madrid: ‘We must execute our game plan better than we did in the first leg’

Manchester City face Real Madrid for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie tomorrow and manager Pep Guardiola wants to see an improvement from his side.

City did not create any clear-cut chances last week, with their only goal coming courtesy of a Kevin De Bruyne shot from outside the box.

They controlled possession but failed to create anything incisive as the game ended 1-1.

Guardiola wants the team to create better openings for their forwards and suggested he would make some tactical tweaks against Los Blancos.

“We have a game plan and we have to execute it a little bit better than we did it in the first leg,” he told the club’s official website.

“We have to adjust something – we have to do it a little better to create more chances for our strikers and our people up front – get more balls in these positions, knowing that the transitions, the ball possession and the quality that they have in all departments is really high.

“It could not be any different – we’re playing against Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League – we expect the toughest opponents we can face right now in the last few years.

“This is the challenge – we embrace it, we get it and go for it.”

Guardiola announced that City defender Nathan Ake will miss the game. He is the only player unavailable to face Madrid.

Despite Guardiola claiming Ake’s fitness had improved after missing the first leg, he is not ready for tomorrow.