Craig Burley has stressed the importance of a certain Manchester City player returning to the fold against Real Madrid.
Considering the first leg between both teams ended in a 3-3 draw in Madrid and the away goals rule has been scrapped from the Champions League, in effect, the contest at the Etihad Stadium is a final.
In the past, City would have had a major advantage, having scored three goals at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It is the exact same scenario as last season and only time will tell if Pep Guardiola’s men can even show arguably the biggest club in world football that their patch is well and truly a fortress.
Last season, City did teach Carlo Ancelotti’s side a lesson but Pep Guardiola did admit recently that it would be “almost impossible” for them to repeat their 4-0 drubbing of the visitors like in 2023.
With Real Madrid looking new and improved with the addition of Jude Bellingham this campaign, it looks likely that they will push Manchester City to the brink on Wednesday to qualify for the semi-final.
Craig Burley says City really need £50m star to return vs Real Madrid
While City were not hurt by crucial absences to their side in the first leg, it is all on the line for them in the second.
Los Blancos will be fired up, knowing that they have the chance of pulling off a potential upset in arguably the most daunting stadium in the world nowadays.
Additionally, the Spanish giants did find ways to cause Manchester City troubles in the first leg and they will be looking to do the same at the Etihad Stadium.
As a result, any absences, due to injury or other reasons would not be ideal for Guardiola ahead of the second leg.
Now, it has been emphasised that the treble-winners are in need of one of their players’ services for the upcoming clash.
And that player is Kyle Walker, according to Craig Burley, who explained why Manchester City would have their fingers crossed that he can start against Real Madrid.
“City know how dangerous this team can be if they get sloppy if they get pressed if they get the ball away and that’s why it’s so important, I think that Kyle Walker is available and possibly plays to have that insurance policy in place because Vinicius and Rodrygo were a handful on the counter-attack at the Bernabeu.”
“And that’s what Real Madrid do all day long, all night long and they will wait and they will wait and they will wait and if City get themselves in bad positions, as they have done in the Premier League this season many times, it has not been their strong point, then this Real Madrid side will punish them”, he said [via ESPN FC].
Pep Guardiola is believed to privately agree with Craig Burley, as it was recently reported that he was “desperate” for Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker to be fit in time to face Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola must devise Kyle Walker alternative
In our view, Craig Burley is correct as Manchester City would depend on Kyle Walker to use his experience and pace to stop Real Madrid from causing havoc on the break in the second leg.
But in case the £50 million man is unable to pass a late fitness test, Guardiola must devise an alternate plan in his potential absence.
One of those plans could be to push back his defensive line, unlike was the case against Real Madrid in the first leg.
Despite being at home, perhaps Pep Guardiola may be setting up pragmatically to ensure his team are tough to break down.
Secondly, Manchester City might have to better plan their approach in possession to exact control over their opponents in the second leg.
Perhaps Guardiola and his staff could take a look at how Real Madrid pressed and find a way to plan around that, allowing the hosts to be more dominant, lose less of the ball and therefore, concede fewer counter-attacks.
Ideally, Walker’s return would be City’s dream but it is always safer to have another alternative up one’s sleeve and that might be on the Catalan’s mind when he is preparing his team for the second leg.