It can be seen as Pep Guardiola’s never-ending quest, but the challenge of winning the Champions League with Manchester City actually began earlier for Kevin De Bruyne, the playmaker who predated his manager at the Etihad Stadium. On Wednesday, barring a surprise appearance for Fernandinho, he will become the only player to start two Champions League semi-finals for them at the Bernabeu. If the contrast between nouveau riche and aristocracy was more pronounced the first time, in 2016, another gulf has grown since then.
Real had a mere 10 European Cups to their name when Fernando’s own goal decided that semi-final, a couple of months before Guardiola’s arrival in Manchester. Now Real have 13 and City still have none. Under the former Barcelona manager, they have become ever-presents in the knockout stages. They have found ways of not winning the competition, from defensive errors to contentious officiating to Guardiola’s backfiring leftfield choices, each adding to the theory he overthinks things.
