They’re waiting to kill us
THREAT: Guardiola’s warning PEP GUARDIOLA admits the critics are waiting to “kill” him and Manchester City if they fail to get past Monaco in the Champions League last 16.
Guardiola believes the free-scoring French league leaders pose a serious threat to his hopes of extending his proud record of never failing to reach at least the semi-finals in Europe’s top club competition.
But he says all the pressure will be on him and his players to, at least, emulate last season’s progress to the last four.
Ahead of tonight’s first leg at the Etihad, he said: “All of Europe will watch us. They will analyse us and kill us if we don’t win, or say how good we are if we do. That is a huge experience and it’s beautiful to live it. I’d like to convince the players to enjoy the moment.”
Monaco, who beat Tottenham home and away in the group stages, have scored 108 goals in all competitions and Guardiola is a huge admirer of Leonardo Jardim’s team.
“As a spectator, it is so nice to watch them,” he added. “They are the most successful team in Europe in terms of scoring goals. They are killers in the box. A complete team.” Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, insists THEO WALCOTT scored his 100th Arsenal goal to crush Sutton United’s FA Cup dreams.
Lucas Perez opened the scoring in the 26th minute, but it did nothing to dampen the spirit of non-League Sutton and they enjoyed chances through Jamie Collins, Bedsente Gomis and Roarie Deacon – whose superb 25-yard shot rattled the bar.