Pep Guardiola: Jude Bellingham’s impact and influence ‘massive’ for Real Madrid - ‘It's a different team’

Pep Guardiola says Jude Bellingham has had a “massive impact” on Real Madrid, who are a “different team” this season.

Manchester City have drawn Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in a replay of last season’s semi-final.

City comfortably secured a 5-1 win on aggregate against Madrid to reach the final against Inter Milan, which they won to seal their first-ever Champions League title.

However, Guardiola knows Madrid will pose a different threat this year, mainly to due one player.

"[Bellingham's] impact has been massive,” Guardiola admitted. “It's a different team from last season. His influence is obvious, and we have to try to discover what he does to control it.

"Facing Real Madrid is always a tough challenge, nobody can deny it. They are an exceptional club, and in this competition they can control many things with the experience they have in the past.

"Like last season there will be moments for them and moments for us. The longer we can keep our moments, we'll be closer. We'll try to do a good performance in Madrid and then here, with our people, do it again."

Since Bellingham joined Los Blancos from Borussia Dortmund in an £88 million deal during the summer, he has scored an incredible 20 goals in 31 games.

The 20-year-old netted 16 of those in 22 La Liga games, while scoring four in six Champions League matches.

Not only has his scintillating goal-scoring form caught the eye of many, but he has stepped up in big moments to help Madrid reach the quarter-finals in Europe, while they coast at the top of the Spanish top-flight.

He scored a brace in a 2-1 victory on his El Clasico debut after Madrid fell a goal behind, and also decisively struck in narrow Champions League wins against Union Berlin, Napoli and Braga.

City travel to the Bernabeu for the first leg on Tuesday, April 9, before welcoming Carlo Ancelotti’s side to Etihad Stadium a week later for the return leg.

Both games will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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