Guardiola won’t rein in City Pep planning to go for jugular in Monaco despite leaky defense
MANCHESTER, UK — Pep Guardiola pledged Manchester City will continue to fight fire with fire when it takes a 5-3 lead to Monaco in their Champions League last-16 tie.
In an end-to-end first leg at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, City fought back from 2-1 and 3-2 down to put itself in the driving seat.
The French side exposed serious failings in the host’s defense, but although Guardiola acknowledged City must tighten at the back, he will not curb his side’s swashbuckling attacking at Stade Louis II.
“They will attack more and more and we have to defend better. But we will have our chances,” said City manager Guardiola.
“We are going to fly to Monaco to score as many goals as possible. We are not going to defend that result.
“We now know each other better. We will adjust some things, they will adjust some things, but we have to score goals.
“If we don’t score a goal in Monaco, we will be eliminated.”
Raheem Sterling gave City a 26th-minute lead following a fine run from Leroy Sane, but a loose kick by goalkeeper Willy Caballero allowed Radamel Falcao to level with a header.
A dawdling Nicolas Otamendi was at fault for Monaco’s second, scored by Kylian Mbappe, and then conceded a penalty, only for Caballero to save Falcao’s effort.
Sergio Aguero and Falcao swapped goals — the former benefiting from a huge error by Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, the latter scoring with a sublime chip — before City found an extra gear.
Aguero volleyed in David Silva’s corner to make it 3-3 in the 71st minute and further goals from John Stones and Sane carried Guardiola’s men to a breathless victory.
Aguero was booked for diving after flinging himself over a Subasic tackle in the first half, but Guardiola refused to discuss the incident, barking: “Next question!”
Aguero has only returned to the starting XI because of an injury to Gabriel Jesus, but the Argentine played down suggestions his relationship with Guardiola is frosty.
“The truth is we get on very well,” said Aguero.
“What he wants, above everything, from all the players is that we push a little more. He’s always asking me for more, more, more.
“Obviously it’s a sacrifice I have to make, that we all have to make, and fortunately tonight it worked and we’ll see if it keeps working.”
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said his team paid for “defensive errors”, but identified Falcao’s saved penalty as the “key moment”.
The visitor was 2-1 up when Otamendi scythed down Falcao, only for the former Chelsea and Manchester United striker’s tame spot kick to be kept out by Caballero.
Eighteen-year-old Mbappe vindicated Jardim’s decision to hand him a first Champions League start by calmly netting Monaco’s second.
And Jardim is hopeful Monaco can turn the tie around in three weeks’ time.
“Scoring three goals at City, putting on a great show, is an important moment,” he said.
“There are 90 minutes left at home. Nothing is finished.”
We have to score goals. If we don’t score a goal in Monaco, we will be eliminated.” Pep Guardiola, Man City boss
Raheem Sterling said Manchester City must improve defensively after it edged Monaco 5-3 in the madcap first leg of its Champions League last16 tie on Tuesday.
City took a 26th-minute lead through Sterling but then trailed 2-1 and 3-2 before rallying thanks to late goals by Sergio Aguero, who scored twice, John Stones and Leroy Sane.
All three of Monaco’s goals stemmed from errors — by goalkeeper Willy Caballero and defenders Nicolas Otamendi and Stones.
And, while Sterling was thrilled to win, he admitted his team was fortunate to finish with a two-goal advantage.
“It’s always difficult to go down, but the boys did really well,” he told BT Sport.
“We played our football and stuck to our game and it worked out in the end. At the end of the day, we need to