Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that their upcoming Champions League clash with Real Madrid will be “extremely difficult.”
The two European powerhouses were drawn against each other in the knockout play-offs on Friday.
City will host the first leg at the Etihad Stadium on either February 11 or 12, with the second leg set for the Santiago Bernabeu on February 18 or 19.
Before that, Guardiola’s side will travel to North London to face Arsenal in the Premier League.
The match marks the beginning of a challenging February for City, who also face Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham, along with the Champions League double-header against Real Madrid, all before the month concludes.
“We started in Paris and then Chelsea, so we are already there with difficult games,” Guardiola said.
“We have dealt with this kind of incredible tie schedule for many, many years, so it’s not a problem.
“Madrid is extremely difficult. We know that. It’s tough playing against Real, and the problem is in the middle, playing Newcastle.”
There have been suggestions that Rodri could be included in the Champions League squad for the second half of the season.
The Spaniard is back in Manchester after undergoing the first part of his recovery in Madrid.
Guardiola has warned about the risks of the 28-year-old coming back too early.
“The most important thing for him is to recover well,” Guardiola said.
“He is not a teenager, but he still has years to play, and it’s going to happen if he recovers well.
“To come back for a few weeks and then have a setback for next season is not intelligent.
“The body is the body, and recovery needs its own time, but it’s going really well, and step by step we’ll see.”
