Despite holding a healthy 3-1 lead, Guardiola is not getting carried away ahead of the Champions League round of 16 second leg.
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Manchester City head into the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16 fixture with a comfortable 3-1 lead. The defending champions enjoyed a good day in Denmark during the reverse fixture by securing a two-goal cushion. With the second leg set to happen at the Etihad Stadium, City will undoubtedly be the favourites to get the job done in front of the home crowd. Hence, their supporters will hope that their team can carry their good domestic run into Europe.
Despite holding a healthy 3-1 lead, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not getting carried away ahead of the Champions League round of 16 second leg against FC Copenhagen. “In football everything can happen, and we have to be aware of that. We have respect for Copenhagen and how they play. The Champions League is Champions League. The best eight teams in Europe [will move to the next round],” Guardiola, quoted on the club’s website, said ahead of the match.
He added: “We have the chance to be in quarter-finals again and this is the target. We’re not far off that. The way Copenhagen defend – they are compact – and all the movements they do really well. I am always aware of the opponents, but I especially look at our players. We struggled there last season; Bayern Munich were not able to win in Copenhagen. They play two years in a row with the same manager, and they have a strong striker. They are compact and do really good movements.”
Guardiola has insisted that details make a difference in football and hence it is important for his side to maintain their level. “My concern is always there. Otherwise I would not be here, but I prefer to start 3-1 up rather than 0-1 down. I would like us to be ahead 7-0, but that normally doesn’t happen in the Champions League. I want us to perform the way we have to do. Red cards or bad decisions can happen in football. If we conceded another goal in the group stages, we are second in the table and the draw would have been Real Madrid not Copenhagen. In football the details make the difference. Prepare well, mentally and read what they have to do. Respect Copenhagen, because this competition deserves it,” he stated.
Manchester City will be heading into the Champions League contest on the back of registering a come-from-behind victory over rivals Manchester United at the weekend. Providing an update on the squad, Guardiola said that selection depends on his players’ recovery from the last match. “Selection all depends on how people recover from the last game. That’s all. We will take a selection tomorrow morning. It’s really important to be focused. Jack is not ready. I don’t know [when he will be available],” he explained.
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