Pep Guardiola expresses caution regarding Jude Bellingham ahead of City vs Madrid clash

• Pep Guardiola expressed caution regarding Jude Bellingham.
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• Bellingham scored 20 goals in the La Liga this season.
• First leg of Champions League quarterfinals will take place from April 9-10.

Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has expressed caution regarding Real Madrid’s star player, Jude Bellingham, as his team is set to face the Spanish powerhouse in the Champions League quarter-finals on Friday.

Guardiola is of the opinion that Real Madrid has transformed compared to the previous season, largely due to Bellingham’s “obvious” influence.

Last season, City, the defending champions, triumphed over the 14-time Champions League victors in the semi-finals, securing a 1-1 draw away and a decisive 4-0 victory at the Etihad in the second leg.

Bellingham, who transferred from Borussia Dortmund to Real in July for an approximate fee of 103 million euros, has scored 20 goals and provided nine assists for the current leaders of La Liga in all competitions this season.

When questioned about the leading scorer in La Liga, the City manager informed reporters on Friday: “(Bellingham’s) impact has been massive. 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.”

The first legs of the Champions League’s quarter-finals are slated to take place from April 9-10, and the second legs are scheduled for April 16-17.

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