Federico Valverde weighed in on whether Real Madrid or Manchester City had been playing better football leading up to the second leg.
Valverde was essentially discussing which team had showcased a superior style of play throughout the season.
This argument holds as Manchester City hasn’t been as dominant in their league this season compared to Real Madrid.
During Wednesday’s match at the Etihad Stadium, it appeared that Pep Guardiola’s side had the upper hand.
According to the official Champions League website, the statistics are clear-cut.
Manchester City registered 120 attacks compared to Real Madrid’s 19.
In terms of shots, the visiting team managed eight, while the home side attempted thirty-four.
In passing, the Sky Blues completed 865 passes, whereas the Spanish giants managed 402.
A quick glance at the numbers shows that Manchester City controlled the game against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
However, football is not just about statistics.
Ultimately, the game is results-driven.
Real Madrid deserves credit for their ability to capitalize and secure the win.
Being overly critical of City would be unfair since they did enough to come out on top, and ultimately, luck plays a significant role in determining the winner of a penalty shootout.
Before the match, Federico Valverde acknowledged that Manchester City had been playing better football than Real Madrid leading up to the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.
“It’s a fact of football that Madrid always delivers,” Valverde stated. “The other team was stronger than us heading into the match, and they were the favorites.
But we are Madrid, and we fought hard, dug in, and played excellent defense. We won the game that way,” he said [via the official Real Madrid website].
Valverde’s candid admission is noteworthy.
Firstly, the fact that Federico Valverde, a midfielder for Real Madrid, made this statement highlights the high regard some of the world’s best players have for Manchester City.
A player of Valverde’s caliber from Los Merengues would rarely admit that another team had played better football.
Yet, Valverde did, and his honesty is commendable.
His acknowledgment also shows that while Real Madrid is solely focused on winning, City shares a similar mindset but also places a higher emphasis on the style of play compared to their European counterparts.
This approach to football reflects the differing cultures of the two teams.