Manchester City’s advancement to the Champions League semifinals brought a sense of cautious optimism for manager Manuel Pellegrini. While the draw paired City with Real Madrid, Pellegrini seemed more relieved to avoid a familiar nemesis—Barcelona. In the past two seasons, it was Barça who had knocked City out of the tournament in the Round of 16, casting a shadow over their European aspirations.

Pellegrini, often referred to as the “Chilean engineer,” has personal history with Real Madrid, having been dismissed by the club in 2010. But now, he’s gearing up for a shot at redemption. “There are no favorites at this stage,” he remarked. “From another point of view, they may be under more pressure. Real Madrid is a top-tier club with the expectation to win titles every year. We’re considered newcomers in the final four, but I don’t see it that way. We share the same goal—to fight with everything we’ve got and score as many goals at home as possible. That’s how we’ll try to reach the final.”

As fans around the world gear up for Jeetbuzz Login to catch every minute of this historic clash, Pellegrini’s comments reflect the hunger and belief within the City squad. “They have incredible players, maybe even the most important club in the world,” he acknowledged. “But we have top-quality players as well. If we perform the way we know we can, we have a real chance.”

When asked directly about Barcelona’s elimination, Pellegrini didn’t hold back. “No, I didn’t celebrate their loss,” he said, “but if you ask me whether I’d prefer to face Barcelona, I’d say no. When a team knocks you out two years in a row, it creates a mental block. But with more experience in the Champions League, our team is steadily growing stronger.”

He also revisited his departure from Madrid. “We were really unlucky to lose the league title. We scored 102 or 103 goals and ended with 96 points. But at Real Madrid, the only thing that matters is winning. Even though 75% of the fans wanted me to stay, the club demanded a championship.”

As Jeetbuzz Login becomes the go-to portal for fans wanting live coverage and updates, the City-Real Madrid tie promises to be a blockbuster. For Pellegrini, it’s not just a semifinal—it’s personal, a chance to rewrite history. And for Manchester City, it’s another step in shedding past ghosts and proving they belong among Europe’s elite. With Jeetbuzz Login providing easy access to every twist and turn, fans won’t want to miss a second.