City can still be ‘more clinical’
GUARDIOLA: HARD-TO-PLEASE COACH SEEKING PERFECTION
Manchester City moved to the verge of the Champions League quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday but coach Pep Guardiola insisted his team still need to “be more clinical up front”.
A first-half header from Bernardo Silva and a Gabriel Jesus strike in the second period of the last-16 first leg tie extended a winning streak by Guardiola’s high-flying side to 19 games in all competitions.
Premier League leaders City camped inside the Gladbach half for most of the game, which was moved to Hungary due to Germany’s Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Although dominant, City took time to break down a stubborn German defence, often foiled by the interceptions of Algeria leftback Ramy Bensebaini.
While Guardiola said afterwards he was “pleased” with the result, he added City “have to improve” to challenge for Champions League honours.
“We controlled the game. Unfortunately we were not clinical up front, it is something we have to improve in this competition, we were not good enough in the box, we didn’t dribble and shoot enough,” said Guardiola.
“In this competition you have to be perfect to be sure you can go through,” he said.
Debutants in the Champions League knockout stages, Gladbach had been urged by coach Marco Rose to be brave against Guardiola’s side.
France’s Alassane Plea was almost through on goal on 20 minutes after a rare counter-attack, but a nervy and deep-lying Gladbach eventually succumbed to mounting pressure in the 29th minute.
A sublime inch-perfect cross by Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo curled over the defence from the left to reach his compatriot Silva, who flicked his close-range header past Yann Sommer.
“Every time when he plays (Silva) he’s exceptional. He’s really good in the air, the finish was fantastic,” added Guardiola.
Apart from a lunging back heel from Plea that flashed just wide of Ederson’s far post on the hour mark, City comfortably contained the Germans, and went two up via Jesus in the 65th minute.