Pep’s troops hit Fode for last 16
Phil seals early spot in the knockouts
PEP GUARDIOLA hailed his Manchester City side for clinching their place in the knockout stage with two games to spare.
Phil Foden’s first-half strike was enough to send City into the last 16 and maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition this season.
It is the eighth year running City have reached the knockout stage, although they have fallen at the quarter-final stage in the past three seasons.
Paying tribute to his players, Guardiola said: “We’ve had an incredible group stage, especially the two games away. We’ve already qualified and we’ll try to finish first. I know it looks easy but it’s not.
“Unfortunately we could only score one goal but the team is alive. We attacked with desire.
“The performance was top-class.”
Given City had 22 shots on target, they should have won by a bigger margin but this was a case of job done and they can now shift their focus to climbing the Premier League.
“We haven’t had the best results in the league but it’s good to see we’re doing the right things in the Champions League,” said match-winner Foden.
“That’s something we have to work on, scoring more goals, but we’re creating the chances and hopefully we can score enough to win games comfortably.”
City dominated from the start and had their Greek opponents pinned back in their half as they sprayed the ball around with their customary assurance.
But it took Guardiola’s men until the half-hour mark to conjure their first proper chance, Bernardo Silva threading the ball through to Gabriel Jesus, whose shot was blocked by keeper Jose Sa.
The breakthrough came six minutes later, Jesus and Raheem Sterling combining, the latter with a backheel for Foden to steer a first-time left-foot finish into the net.
Sterling forced a fine save from Sa with a dipping, goal-bound free-kick in first-half added time but City were unable to add to Foden’s strike There was a longawaited return for star striker Sergio Aguero, who came on with 12 minutes left for his first appearance in a month, a huge boost as City look to score more goals. But Guardiola reserved special praise for defenderdefen John Stones, who hhas found chances limitedlimi after the signingsignings of Ruben Dias aand Nathan Ake. He said: “A big compliment for JohnJo because it is not eeasy after a long time aand with Ruben alongsalongside t h e y make an incredible couple.coup I’m especiaespecially happy for him.”