City host the 13-time winners on August 7 holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
It’s undoubtedly the biggest match of our season so far, with a place in the final eight of the competition at stake.
Real Madrid have won 10 and drawn one of their 11 game since La Liga resumed, a run of results which has seen them overhaul Barcelona and finish the season as Spanish champions.
Guardiola acknowledges their experience in Europe makes them formidable opponents but has encouraged his players to play in the open, expansive way that has brought us so much success in recent years.
“It’s about spending two weeks to prepare best for Real Madrid and try to do a good game,” he said.
“I don’t go out thinking about the first leg result. They can score two, three. We can score goals too.
“We will do the best game possible. It’s about what we do on the pitch.
“Especially, we have to be ourselves. I would not like to finish the game and think we were not like we usually are.
“If the opponent is better, we will congratulate them and next season we will be there.”
CHECK OUT THE 2020/21 PUMA COLLECTION
Meanwhile, Guardiola says the players will once again be in charge of electing the Club’s next captain when David Silva leaves us at the end of the current campaign.
The Spaniard will bring to a close a 10-year stay at the Etihad this summer, a period which has seen him win four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups.
He assumed the captaincy last summer after players voted for him to replace Vincent Kompany – and the same approach will be taken this summer.
“As I always do, the players will decide,” he said. “I can suggest but the players decide who is the guy who represents them.
“It will come the normal way. The players are so smart, they are mates, they know.”
You can watch full-match replays of every City game with a City+ subscription.
For more information on City+, follow the link HERE.
