Guehi urges Man City to 'free our minds' ahead of pivotal week

Marc Guehi called on his Manchester City team-mates to "free our minds" ahead of a pivotal week that could define their season.

City host Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League last 16, trailing 3-0 after a first-leg thrashing in the Spanish capital, courtesy of a Fede Valverde hat-trick.

Pep Guardiola's side then face Arsenal in Sunday's EFL Cup final, hoping to strike a psychological blow with Mikel Arteta's team nine points clear in the Premier League title race.

"It's important we free our minds," Guehi said. "They're two important games and big games. They're two games that we go into and believe we can get the win in both. Free our minds and just go for it.

"The most important thing is the next action and staying in the present, not thinking too far ahead. The present is the next game and it's about making sure we're ready for that.

"It's a big week ahead for us. We live each day in the present and take each game and each step at a time."

Madrid have won the first leg of a two-legged knockout stage tie by 3+ goals on 36 occasions in major European competition. No side has ever eliminated them in the second leg in that scenario across 35 attempts.

Guardiola suggested in the immediate aftermath of the result at Santiago Bernabeu that there was "not much" chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

However, Guehi insists his team-mates are confident of an upset and turning things around to reach the last eight as they look to respond to Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with West Ham in the Premier League.

"If you go into these games and don't believe, there's no point in turning up to play," he said. "It's important we rally everyone and we're ready to go again.

"We pick ourselves up – it's the next game and the most important thing. We'll make sure we go for that game and believe that we can turn it around."

As for the title race, City are nine points behind top spot for just the fourth time this season.

The only team to win a Premier League title having ended the night 9+ points behind the top, having played 30 or more games, is Man City themselves in 2013-14.