"I didn't substitute any player because those on the pitch can do the job" - Pep Guardiola says after Man City's draw with Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has clarified that his inaction on the bench against Real Madrid was caused by a desire to hold onto the ball.

Despite City's equalizer, Real Madrid was exerting pressure in the second half of the first leg of the semi-final, with many believing that Los Blancos were in control. But during the whole game, Guardiola opted not to act from the bench.

Guardiola revealed to MD after the game that, “I thought that those who were there were fine.”

“Bernardo and Grealish could keep the ball and it was something we needed. If the game went crazy we didn’t have the same level [on the bench as them] as them, we needed pausa.”

Manchester City ultimately managed to hold out for a point and will feel at ease attempting to draw the game at home. City supporters will be worried by the fact that Guardiola felt uncomfortable employing some of his replacements.

In order to shake things up, Carlo Ancelotti did not make any substitutions until the last 10 minutes of the game, when he substituted Marco Asensio, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Nacho Fernandez for Rodrygo Goes, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric, respectively.