• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Rio Ferdinand reveals what Pep Guardiola texted him before Champions League semi-final

Home> Football

Updated 23:47 17 May 2023 GMT+1Published 23:03 17 May 2023 GMT+1

Rio Ferdinand reveals what Pep Guardiola texted him before Champions League semi-final

Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Pep Guardiola told him Manchester City would win their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

Lewis Browning

Lewis Browning

Rio Ferdinand says he received a text from Pep Guardiola before Manchester CIty's Champions League win over Real Madrid insisting his side would defeat the reigning champions.

City romped to victory against the 14-time Champions League winners on Wednesday, running out 4-0 victors in a game they dominated from start to finish as they moved one step closer to winning the competition for the first time ever.

Guardiola's men lost to Madrid at the same stage last year as Carlo Ancelotti and Co. went to the final to beat Liverpool, and it appears that was a hot topic of conversation between Guardiola and former Manchester United defender Ferdinand.

"Pep Guardiola texted me before the game and said, 'We beat them two years ago and we will beat them again, believe me'," Ferdinand said.

Footage has also emerged on Twitter of Guardiola approaching Ferdinand, who was working at the Etihad as a pundit for BT Sport, and pointing, seemingly in an attempt to show that he was proven right.

It was actually three years ago, in 2020, that Guardiola's City beat Madrid in the Champions League.

Advert

They managed to win 2-1 at the Bernabeu in the first leg - a feat they didn't achieve this year - before replicating the same result at the Etihad the week after to move to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Last year, City won the first leg of the two sides' semi-final tie, and looked to have one foot in the final, leading 5-3 on aggregate with just minutes remaining.

Rodrygo, however, scored two goals moments before time to take the tie to extra time, where Karim Benzema fired in a penalty and took Madrid to Paris for the final.

Rio Ferdinand on Liverpool
Rio Ferdinand on Liverpool

Advert

There was no contest this time round in truth, however, with City rampant at the Etihad as Bernardo Silva twice found the net before an Eder Militao own goal and Julian Alvarez finish put the icing on the cake. One wonders if Rio will be on the phone to Pep again before the final - or maybe before City face United in the FA Cup final...

Featured Image Credit: Amply

Topics: Pep Guardiola, Rio Ferdinand, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Champions League

Lewis Browning
Lewis Browning

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • Sky SportsSky Sports
    9 hours ago

    Roy Keane Claims Man Utd Player Has Been 'Getting Away With Murder' For Years

    Keane was critical of one United player in particular after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

    Football
  • Sky SportsSky Sports
    10 hours ago

    Gary Neville Notices Ruben Amorim Red Flag That Erik Ten Hag Used To Do

    United lost 3-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

    Football
  • Sky SportsSky Sports
    11 hours ago

    Bruno Fernandes Gives Brutally Honest Interview as Amorim Tactics Questioned

    United's captain was on media duties after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

    Football
  • LFC YouTubeLFC YouTube
    11 hours ago

    Arne Slot Confirms When Alexander Isak Will Make Liverpool Debut After Missing Burnley Win

    The striker was absent from the Liverpool squad at Turf Moor.

    Football
  • Rio Ferdinand Claims Arsenal Player Sent Him Private Message Over Criticism
  • Pep Guardiola Blocked Man City From Losing Star Player in Summer Window
  • Zinedine Zidane Settled Pep Guardiola vs Alex Ferguson Debate as 'Best' Manager Named
  • Pep Guardiola names the only team he doesn't want Man City to face in the Champions League