The Champions League fixture had arrived just few days after City defeated Manchester United 3-1 in the Premier League.
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Manchester City completed their job against FC Copenhagen in the second leg to reach the quarter-final of the Champions League. The defending champion had won the reverse fixture 3-1 and entered the second leg at home with a healthy cushion. They were able to repeat the same scoreline at the Etihad Stadium to book a last-8 ticket with an aggregate score of 6-2. The Champions League fixture had arrived just a few days after City defeated Manchester United 3-1 in the Premier League.
Hence, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made several changes to the Starting XI for the Copenhagen game. “I played against Luton in the FA Cup and was not thinking about United. I played today and needed energy, fresh legs. I know how tired and exhausted some players were today to play three days after United,” Guardiola, quoted on the club’s website, said after the Champions League match.
He added: “Normally in the Champions League when you play Wednesday in all the countries in the world – except in this country – they allow you to play on Saturday. We played on Sunday. So I needed fresh legs. People who could sustain. We were fortunate, lucky to score two early. That helped us a lot because this competition is so tricky, so dangerous. And we spoke and said be calm, don’t lose your emotions and if we scored one goal, two goals, the knockout will be closer.”
Guardiola was happy with the start they made in that fixture by scoring two early goals. He also explained how difficult a challenge it was to face Copenhagen. “We scored two goals and that helped us a lot. I said to the players after the game, ‘I would not convince you, I am going to tell you we went through against such a difficult team’. Copenhagen played United, Bayern Munich and Galatasaray. They are a difficult opponent,” he said.
The manager added: “So well organised. And, of course, to be part of the titles we need everyone. That’s why we used [our squad]. Really pleased with the performance. The people expect a lot of things, but I know how difficult it is. For another year we are in the best eight teams in Europe. The draw, next Friday, we will be there. Incredibly happy we are still in all competitions.”
Guardiola then shifted his attention to the young academy players – Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis- who got valuable minutes in that Champions League game. “It’s a process. Rico played better in the last 10, 15 minutes in the second half. Oscar played really, really good the first minutes and after he lost the ball in transitions – and they scored a goal – he dropped a little bit, his mood. But they are so young. Now they’ve had 90 minutes, Oscar, for the next game will be more aware that he can do it,” he explained.
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