Lyon loss no Pep talk for team – Ilkay

MANCHESTER City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan insists last season’s disheartening Champions League exit will not provide an extra source of motivation this year.

The Premier League leaders resume their latest challenge in

Europe’s elite competition as they face Ilkay Gundogan Borussia Monchengladbach in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Budapest tonight.

City placed themselves among the favourites as they eliminated Real Madrid at the same stage last year, only to go out in disappointing fashion to Lyon in a one-legged quarter-final.

Gundogan said: “It is not something that is forgotten, to be honest, but it is not something that gives us any extra motivation.

“It is a new year, a new option, a new chance and a new challenge. We just try to do our best, as we did in the past.

“We didn’t do less in the past, we just made mistakes which led to these outcomes. Our motivation is there, as it was in the past, and we just try to do our best.”

City are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League and still involved in two domestic cup competitions, as well as the Champions League.

Gundogan, however, is not entertaining quadruple talk.

He said: “It is nothing that I have thought about until you just mentioned it and will not be thinking (it) in (the) next few weeks.

“If it happens I will take it but it is not something I think about.”

Manager Pep Guardiola also denied the Lyon result was a significant factor in his planning for the game.

Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference: “We played better than Lyon. We lost but we played better. We’re going to try to play better this time and win the game.

“We’re going to play this like we’ve played the last games this season, in all competitions - nothing special.”

ELLEN White struck a hat-trick as England Women marked Hege Riise’s first game in temporary charge with a 6-0 demolition of Northern Ireland in a behind-closed-doors friendly at St George’s Park.

White struck twice in the first half in clinical fashion before completing her treble in the 48th minute, taking her international tally to 37 goals.

Lucy Bronze, Rachel Daly and Ella Toone with a penalty on her debut were also on target.

The Lionesses had not played since March last year after scheduled matches against Germany and Norway were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Norway midfielder Riise took charge of England for the first time, with Holland boss Sarina Wiegman due to take over permanently in September following Phil Neville’s departure last month.

England had two opportunities inside the first five minutes, with goalkeeper Becky Flaherty quick off her line to deny White the chance to get the shot away.

But White did not have to wait long for her first goal.