Having narrowly beaten Inter Milan last June to complete a historic treble, the Premier League champions’ inconsistent domestic form this term saw many believing they’d crash-and-burn on all fronts this season after Kevin de Bruyne’s injury left star striker Erling Haaland without his creator-in-chief. Both back fit again in an in-form team, Guardiola doesn’t think so – and why would he?
Copenhagen represents City’s next port of call
FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
UEFA Champions League last-16, first leg
Kick-off at 8pm BST tonight, live on TNT Sports
COPENHAGEN is calling the Citizens’ name as the Champions League knockout rounds get underway this midweek, Jacob Neestrup’s side no doubt hopeful they can realistically stay in the two-legged tie by the reverse fixture on March 6.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won their last eight continental matches – an English club competition-record – and stayed perfect in the group stage, even after qualifying with games to spare and being afforded a proverbial free hit to experiment.
As such, that gap between themselves and their Group G counterparts allowed the Catalan freedom to select younger, fringe players that might not featuring during big matches while also showcasing some of the club’s exciting academy prospects too.
“Before, I felt: are you sure Pep, are we ready to do it? Now the whole organisation believes we can, this is the best legacy that we give to the club and team: Man City can compete, that is so good.”
- Pep on how his previous doubts have turned into stronger collective belief
20-year-old midfielder Oscar Bobb, now a full Norway international, has played an increasing role since a late cameo on MD1 against Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade and caught the eye with a matchwinning introduction away at Newcastle on January 13.
That much was evidenced by a 3-2 away win in the reverse fixture on MD6, where both he and 20-year-old winger Micah Hamilton scored while 2005-born midfielder Mahamadou Susoho made his senior debut in a second-half appearance too.
2023 summer signings Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are said to have sustained minor undisclosed injuries, while Sergio Gomez also wasn’t named in the 21-man travelling squad for their Denmark trip. Susoho, Bobb and 18-year-old defensive midfielder Jacob Wright – also a senior debutant this season – all have travelled.
When asked whether City can retain their European trophy, Guardiola wants to experience the intense challenges they face on a weekly basis in England as the pacesetters given they’ve now reached the pinnacle before.
“We challenge ourselves and the opponents to want to beat you. We feel it more than ever in the Premier League, want to do it again [in the Champs Lg]. We have good characters and personalities in the team with how they react in the bad moments.
When I arrived eight years ago, I had the feeling maybe this competition was too much for us, but our defeats and bad moments helped us to grow up and be in the position we are – two finals and one semi-final in the last three years – and the whole club has awareness we can try to be ourselves.”
Copenhagen surprised many by finishing runners-up with eight points from a possible 18 in a competitive Group A featuring Bundesliga champions Bayern, City’s local rivals Manchester United and Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Despite not playing a competitive game since Lucas Lerager’s second-half winner proved pivotal over the latter on December 12 as a result of their domestic winter break, Jacob Neestrup’s men will feel like they have nothing to lose.
They’ve played five matches – two friendlies and three Atlantic Cup fixtures – since mid-January with varying results (W2, D1, L2) but match sharpness is key given there’s much less room for error in Europe’s elite competition after Christmas.
Mohamed Elyonoussi and Diogo Goncalves form part of a deceptively dangerous midfield, while eyes will naturally be drawn to individual displays from Sweden U21 winger Roony Bardghji, who has a series of English admirers tracking his progress.
Haaland’s late brace against Everton at the weekend means City are 13 matches unbeaten across all competitions but Guardiola knows his side can’t be complacent.
He described having a gut feeling this first-leg encounter will be tightly-contested buoyed by the stakes for the Kobenhavn faithful watching at Parken.
“I have been here with the national team against Denmark, it’s so tough.
The crowd are so close and imagine two months without games, the crowd will want to be at the football. I have huge respect, I said to the players this morning you have to prepare mentally and be ready to suffer.”
Although sceptics will always question the authenticity of his words when his side are considerable favourites, it’ll be interesting to see how Copenhagen go about taking the game to their opponents rather than offering too much respect.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via City’s official website
Mo and Sports 