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Football

03rd May 2022

Pep Guardiola left confused by bizarre question ahead of Real Madrid tie

Callum Boyle

Pep Guardiola Real Madrid

Guardiola was left feeling confused

Pep Guardiola was left confused after he was asked a bizarre question by a Spanish journalist in the build up to Manchester City’s Champions League semi final second leg against Real Madrid.

Guardiola takes his side to the Santiago Bernabeu with a 4-3 aggregate lead after an enthralling game at the Etihad Stadium as both teams bid to secure their place in the final.

Real Madrid won the La Liga title last weekend

Madrid, meanwhile, recently wrapped up the La Liga title last weekend with a convincing 4-0 win against Espanyol.

As part of tradition, teams who win the league are normally greeted with a guard of honour by the opposition side to acknowledge their win – however this only happens in domestic campaigns.

Guardiola was bizarrely asked if his side would pay their respects and perform a guard of honour for Madrid when they walked out. Unsurprisingly, the former Barcelona boss didn’t seem keen on the idea.

“Will you give Madrid the guard of honour for winning La Liga?” Guardiola was asked.

He replied: “I don’t have an opinion on that.

“I understand that you ask me something about the league, about Real Madrid becoming champions.

“As spokesman for this club, which is what I am, we congratulate them, but this is the Champions League.”

Madrid’s local rivals, Atletico, will also refuse to give a guard of honour

City are not the only club to confirm that they won’t give Madrid a guard of honour. The club’s city rivals, Atletico have also revealed they will not be performing the gesture.

“A guard of honour to Real Madrid? We congratulate them, but we have a lot of respect for our fans,” said defender Jose Gimenez.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak also echoed those sentiments. He said: “As captain, I’m one of those who doesn’t like to give or receive the guard of honour.

“The club will decide and we’ll do whatever is necessary.”

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