Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola believes succeeding within the Champions League this season is “not about inspiration or emotion” after ready greater than 15 months to observe a replay of his facet’s win over Inter Milan within the 2022-23 last.
The Italian facet had 14 of the 21 makes an attempt at aim between the groups as Metropolis turned European champions for the primary time courtesy of Rodri’s second-half strike of their 1-0 win.
“The way in which they assault is so troublesome to regulate,” Guardiola stated of opponents who go to Metropolis on Tuesday (8pm BST), having received the Italian title by 19 factors final season. “[Our players] should know what they should do. They’ve to regulate one thing.
“It’s not about inspiration or emotion. I’m so chilly on that. It’s the primary recreation of an eight-game group stage. We all know what we have now to do.”
PEP 💬 We have now Gundo again and his place is healthier there. When he’s match, choice is hard. They should compete. I wish to rotate however they should show they’re prepared after I rotate…. I would like all of them concerned and contemporary however they should be able to carry out. pic.twitter.com/A9NyMk6Qb4
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) September 17, 2024
Man Metropolis vs Inter Milan
A lot of the main target within the build-up to the beginning of the expanded Champions League format has targeted on participant welfare. “I wish to rotate however [players] should show, after I rotate, that they’re able to play,” stated the three-time Champions League winner as a supervisor.
“After they don’t carry out properly, I rotate properly. The enterprise right here is to win the subsequent recreation and never as a result of I give presents for this participant or the opposite one. I would like everybody concerned as a result of it’s one of the best ways – mentally, bodily – however they should carry out.”
Reigning Premier League Participant of the Season Phil Foden stays out, having not featured since taking part in for 45 minutes of Metropolis’s opening win at Chelsea on August 18.
Haaland ‘higher’ – Guardiola
Metropolis have been considerably boosted by playmaker Kevin De Bruyne’s nearly ever-present begin to the season and Erling Haaland’s run of 9 targets in 4 matches, taking his complete to 99 in 103 Metropolis appearances.
“If you happen to study the subsequent 100 video games and he scores 99 targets, for me, it’s tremendous,” quipped Guardiola. “Don’t enhance, don’t enhance. Rating within the subsequent 100 video games, 99 targets – I will probably be greater than delighted.
PEP 💬 (On whether or not he’s stunned by Erling Haaland’s stats) A bit of bit, yeah. Are you aware why? I performed for 11 years and scored 11 targets. This man in 4 video games scored 9 targets! pic.twitter.com/ZkjFYFqELf
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) September 17, 2024
“The distinction to final season is he feels higher. He got here from Dortmund [in June 2022] with a number of issues, muscular. He struggled a bit.
“To date [this season] he feels ‘I’m clear, I really feel good right here and no issues’, however… with Kevin, it’s the identical. Each three or 4 days it’s recreation, recreation, recreation. I don’t know [about their fitness] in a single, two or three months’ time.”
Metropolis are the one Premier League group with an ideal report and are at house on Sunday (4.30pm) to Arsenal, who’re two factors behind.
