Following Manchester City's recent Champions League victory over Real Madrid, manager Pep Guardiola has made a candid assessment of his team's chances in the competition. Despite the hard-fought 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabéu, Guardiola tempered expectations, stating that his team is "not ready" to win the Champions League and that they are "far away" from being considered favorites.

The victory against Real Madrid was a significant one, with City coming from behind to secure the win. Rodrygo had put Real Madrid ahead, but goals from Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland before halftime turned the game around. While City managed to hold Real Madrid at bay in the second half, Guardiola believes there is still much room for improvement.

"We are not ready. We are away. In February, we will be better," Guardiola told TNT Sports after the match. He acknowledged the effort his players put in but emphasized the need for further development. "The players made a big effort but we still have much to improve," he stated.

Guardiola also highlighted the significance of the win in the context of the Champions League league phase. "Winning here, we have to be happy in terms of points, especially. We have 13 and it's in our hands to finish in the top eight. That's the target," he said. Prior to the match, Manchester City sat 10th in the 36-team Champions League table. The victory strengthens their chances of securing automatic qualification for the last 16.

The City manager also commented on Erling Haaland's performance, who scored the winning goal from the penalty spot. Guardiola acknowledged Haaland's impressive goal-scoring record but noted the need to involve him more in the game. "His numbers speak for themselves," Guardiola said of Haaland. "We have to find him more, he has to be involved in the game. In the last couple of games he hasn't been in the game, so we have to find a way to find him more".

This victory marked City's first away win in the Champions League this season. Despite the win, Guardiola maintains a cautious outlook, emphasizing the need for continued progress if City are to contend for the Champions League title.

The win also holds significance as Guardiola avoids an unwanted record against Real Madrid. As a manager, Guardiola has faced Real Madrid 27 times, winning 13, drawing 7, and losing 7. However, he had been winless in his last four encounters with the Spanish giants. With the victory, he avoids a five-match winless run against Real Madrid for the first time.