Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is irreplaceable and while Real Madrid are still a top level team, they have lost 50 or 60 goals a season after the Portuguese forward left for Juventus.
The former Barcelona coach gave this thoughts ahead of the Clasico in an interview with Univision Deportes.
"With or without Cristiano, Real Madrid are a top team, but they have lost a lot, 50 or 60 goals," he said.
"He's an incredible player, not only for his goals but also assists in important moments, he is irreplaceable."
Guardiola also assessed Madrid's start to the season, which sees them sit seventh in LaLiga Santander as it stands.
"Madrid started well, now they have had a setback, but they will continue to be up there," he continued.
"Spanish football has been lucky enough to have enjoyed two incredible players [Ronaldo and Lionel Messi] for a decade which helped it grow."
Finally the City boss remained diplomatic when asked who he deemed to be the favourites for Sunday's pivotal battle.
"As is usually the case in the majority of Clasicos, there are no clear favourites," he explained.
"Whatever happens, Barcelona are playing at home and that always carries weight."
eloro
295
Madrid will always be Madrid.But true talk. they have just lost 60 goals a season. now they are gonna have to struggle harder to find their way through the table. I wonder how ronaldo will feel if he meets Madrid (emotional[Cry] or Angry
EminenceBASIT
231
who else still think Madrid doesn't miss this guy after the best coach has spoken..The effect is still everywhere even Perez 🏡
TempleK
223
Maybe the Messi camp can start giving CR7 the respect he deserve sobce their General @ PepGuardiola has declared CR7 irreplaceable.
zeoabilmyz
182
It's a simple mathematics that threatens R. Madrid's season , just minus 50 goals from cr7's average contribution every season , then you find it difficult to figure out where that huge deficit is going to come from to augment the rest of goals from Bale, Benzema and Ascencio . Very difficult one for Los Blancos, though they will overcome it with time.
CR7RealMadrid12
140
Guardiola is absolutely right... We have lost 50/60 and the best player of all times GOAT
Bandiken
104
We always know the value of someone when we loss the person, Real Madrid knows his value now and Perez would regret why he treated him like that