Europe’s best? We are not in Barca’s league
PEP GUARDIOLA has dismissed Manchester City’s tag as favourites to win the Champions League by insisting they are not yet at the same level as Barcelona.
City are arguably Europe’s form team but Guardiola says their lack of history and experience in the competition counts against them.
Even though they effectively sealed their place in the quarter-finals by beating Basle 4-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie, Guardiola will be looking for more signs of progress in tonight’s return at the Etihad Stadium.
He wants to see a controlled, disciplined performance that offers the Swiss no encouragement.
“Are we favourites?” he said. “No, because it is a completely different group of players to Barcelona. They won a lot in the past – we are new.
“We have won one trophy but you can’t make comparisons with a team that has dominated like they have for the last 15 or 20 years with different managers and different players. To join this kind of team you have to be there a long time.
“We are almost in the Champions League quarter-finals and we are almost champions of the Premier League, but we have won neither of them yet, so we have to be calm.
“That is the best advice I can give my players. The Champions League is a dream for all the team but we have to remember that this would be only the second time this club has been in the Champions League last eight.”
On the day referees’ chief Mike Riley visited the Etihad Campus to speak to City officials about their concerns over dangerous tackling, Guardiola warned his players how costly red cards could be in the knockout stages.
They have had five players sent off in the competition in recent seasons.
Guardiola, who called for the meeting with Riley but left it to sporting director Txiki Begiristain to attend, said: “If people say we are favourites it is because, so far, we have done really well. But if what happened against Wigan in the FA Cup happens again in the Champions League – with the red card for Fabian Delph after 44 minutes – you don’t win the Champions League.
“Against Basle we start again from zero. Always it is time to learn. In the Champions League it is so important how to handle both the bad moments and the good.
“We are in a good moment but I would like to see a performance where we don’t concede from set-pieces or counter-attacks, we have control of the game and go through.
“Sometimes in the Champions League it is not about how you are playing. Before Real Madrid played their first leg against Paris Saint-Germain it was, ‘Oh Madrid is not good, PSG is going to win, it’s a top team playing well’. Madrid won 3-1.
“The Champions League is different. It’s so important to be focused and concentrated.”
John Stones is set to return after being left on the bench for the past three games, with Guardiola denying he has lost faith in the England player. Youngster Phil Foden could also start.
“John is an extraordinary player,” he said. “But we now have four excellent centre-backs and they have to be ready for my decisions.
“When we play Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany it is because they are both amazing in winning duels. In other games I need more build-up. But I don’t have any doubts about John’s abilities to play in the team.”
Guardiola will wear his yellow ribbon tonight because UEFA rules allow it.
He accused FA chief executive Martin Glenn of failing to understand the humanitarian rather than political reasons for his support of four imprisoned pro-independence Catalans.