Pep Guardiola agrees with Arne Slot over criticism after Real Madrid nightmare

• Liverpool FC News
• Features
• Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes talk of a Premier League demise in Europe is premature after Manchester City's 3-0 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, echoing Liverpool boss Arne Slot's view

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League remains one of the best in Europe

Pep Guardiola insists it's too early to write off the Premier League's standing in Europe, despite praising Manchester City's opening 20 minutes against Real Madrid in their midweek Champions League defeat as 'one of the best we played there'.

City suffered a 3-0 first-leg defeat in their last-16 tie in Spain, leaving them facing a significant challenge at the Etihad on Tuesday. The result was part of a difficult week for English clubs in Europe's premier competition, with all six Premier League sides failing to secure victories.

The Premier League hasn't produced a finalist since City claimed the trophy in 2023, but Guardiola maintains the English top flight remains Europe's strongest league, supporting Liverpool manager Arne Slot's call for English clubs to be assessed after the second legs.

"Before it was the Premier League is the best in the world, all the teams qualified, all the teams in the Europa League, we were strong," the City manager said.

"How nice we are, and then what happened after that... I'm pretty sure we are an incredible league. The league is fantastic."

"In this competition (the Champions League), in one or two games anything can happen. That means that even being good, in other leagues they are good too. No-one is doubting Bodo/Glimt in Norway now.

"Top team, win 3-0 against Sporting Lisbon, play magnificent, win against us, win against Inter in Milan, in Atletico Madrid. It's tough. The sport is tough. Everyone is well prepared, they have incredible respect for everyone.

"If you want to say everything is a disaster . . . I have an opinion on the game in Madrid, completely an opinion. We did very good things and with other ones we could have been better.

"Emotions were involved. In the first 19/20 minutes before the first goal was exceptional, one of the best we played there.

"We came to make a threat and we were threatening. We concede one goal, immediately the second, it belongs to us and the quality of (Federico) Valverde and some mistakes. And after emotions are involved and it is a completely different game.

"Even in the second half, we started really well, conceded a penalty that was not because Gigio touched the ball. But we were there, we had chances. West Ham will help us to be in a good mood on Tuesday and we will see what happens."