Pep Guardiola also had to face up to the fashionable debate about the LaLiga champions making a guard of honour to Real Madrid as La Liga champions. The Manchester City coach congratulated him for it, but remarked that it has little to do with the Champions League.
Guard of honour or not? That seems to be the (only) question. Ever since it was discussed whether Atletico Madrid should pay tribute to Real Madrid at the Wanda for their league title, there has been nothing else to talk about in relation to the Spaniards. And they've got a whole Champions League semi-final match on Wednesday.
The debate also reached the top continental competition. At the pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola was asked several questions about whether Manchester City will pay tribute to their opponents.
The coach, first of all, wanted to dissociate himself from the controversy: "No, no. It's not up to me, no. No, no. I have no opinion, nothing to say". The journalist reiterated the question: "So, you won't do a guard of honour against Madrid? And Pep replied: "Us? Ah, that's a UEFA question".
Finally, they asked him if, regardless of whether or not it was done, he would be happy to see the guard of honour being made: "I understand that you are asking me a question about La Liga, where Real are champions, something (for which), through the club and its spokesperson, who is me, we congratulate them. But this is the Champions League, it is something that is distant to me".