HOPP, HOPP HOORAY

HOFFENHEIM are currently mid-table in the Bundesliga, but their appearance in the Champions League is the culmination of a remarkable rise for the village club.

They finished third last season but were part-timers until 2007.

The dramatic rise of the team from a village of just 3,000 inhabitants was want to win it, but there are other teams who are just as well-equipped to win it. Firstly we have to deal with losing to Lyon, worry about Hoffenheim and then, if we get momentum, anything is possible.”

City are expected to beat Hoffenheim, who are currently 12th in the Bundesliga. But striker Sergio Aguero has a foot injury and could be rested with Gabriel Jesus coming in.

Guardiola also ruled out City making a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s £200million-rated forward Kylian Mbappe.

“That is not going to happen,” he added.

“City aren’t going to spend the money that Mbappe deserves, or PSG deserves.

“And PSG are not going to sell this kind of player to any other club in the world.” largely made possible by investment from the German software billionaire Dietmar Hopp (left).

In their Champions League debut in 2017, they were defeated 6-3 on aggregate by Liverpool in the play-off round and dispatched to the Europa League, where they finished bottom of their group.