Nagelsmann plots to ‘undo’ idol Guardiola

Vogt misses City clash

SINSHEIM, Germany, Oct 1, (AFP): Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann is plotting to outsmart his idol Pep Guardiola when Manchester City attempt to get their Champions League campaign back on track by winning in Germany on Tuesday.

At 31, Nagelsmann is the youngest coach in Champions League history, and admits to being a a keen student of Guardiola’s methods.

Now he hopes to thwart the Spanish master tactician in Hoffenheim’s first home Champions League match in the club’s history.

“I don’t know if it it’s always an advantage to know Pep Guardiola, because then you know that he is doing so much the right way or the best way,” said Nagelsmann.

“It’s not very easy to say exactly how he will set his team.

“He has different ways to play against different opponents.

“You can see a lot of similarities in his style, but also see a lot of differences.

“As I said, it’s not easy to approach his style of play, but I have a few

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was wrecked by a knee injury in 2008 while playing for Augsburg’s reserves, aged just 20.

For now, the dream is getting one over on Guardiola.

Hoffenheim will be without centre back and club captain Kevin Vogt for their historic home Champions League clash against Manchester City on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old sat out Saturday’s 2-1 league defeat at home to RB Leipzig to rest a persistent thigh problem, which has not responded as hoped and he misses the first home Champions League game in the club’s history.

The 31-year-old Nagelsmann is the youngest head coach in Champions League history and already has a point in Group F after drawing 2-2 at Shakhtar Donestk a fortnight ago, while Man City lost 2-1 at home to Lyon.

“Manchester City will be very strong, we have to play well and brave, the two teams aren’t the same level – that’s not a secret,” said Nagelsmann.

“City are used to playing with a high percentage of possession and we will need to change that if we are to get a goal.” Hoffenheim’s stand-in captain Oliver Baumann said a second straight defeat would put Pep Guardiola’s Premier League giants under huge pressure. West Ham’s Issa Diop (right), challenges Manchester United’s Ashley Young (left), during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham

United and Manchester United at London Stadium in London, England on Sept 29, 2018. (AP)