Pep Guardiola already knows Man City lineup for Real Madrid

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about what the Blues will look to do in their Champions League game

Pep Guardiola knew at least 10 of the players that would start against Real Madrid the day before Manchester City's do-or-die game in the Champions League. The Blues boss is clear about which players are going to be entrusted with an heroic attempt to overcome a 3-0 deficit against one of the best teams in European history.

City are down three goals in their last-16 tie after Guardiola's selection at the Bernabeu went horribly wrong. The manager picked three wingers in his team and not only were they blunt up front but they were punished for three bouts of average defending in an extraordinary first half that saw Fede Valverde score a 22-minute hat-trick.

That gives the Spanish giants a humongous advantage to carry into the second leg, although City do at least have home advantage for the game. They know they will need to be perfect, and going into the game Guardiola knows more of less exactly who will give City their best chance of achieving that on Tuesday night.

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"The selection I have already more or less. I know the team that is going to start tomorrow," he said. "I don't have any doubts. One doubt maybe but the rest is clear."

Guardiola has defended his selection from the first leg and still believes that the result was far worse than the performance. There was plenty that he was satisfied with in the 1-1 draw with West Ham as well, but he knows City need to be better in both boxes to stand a chance.

"We played with four or five strikers in the first leg and didn't score a goal. Sometimes you play with two false nines and score five goals," he said. "The idea is there - we have to try it. Not much different things, just when we arrive there, try to score and defend better the positions.

"A perfect game in many senses and try and try. We can create chances in minutes. We know each other. If we are able to be clinical and defend well, we will always be in the game."