Pep: City are still miles off
PEP GUARDIOLA admits Manchester City are no closer to winning the Champions League – despite having the most expensive squad in football history. The Spaniard’s crop of stars cost £775m to assemble, but Guardiola insists Euro glory is still a distant dream. City kick off their Champions League campaign against Feyenoord tonight. Keeper Ederson (left) could play in a scrum cap following the injuries he picked up in a clash with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane at the weekend. City crashed out of the competition in the last 16 last season, and Guardiola said: “Now we start our road. I know from experience
how complicated it is. We were not able to win one game away last time and it doesn’t matter if you are playing famous team or lower teams.
“We are not dreaming – when you’re in that position it’s better to be calm. When you arrive in the last stages you say the dream is close but now it’s far away.
“The Champions League is so demanding. The teams are so physical. The best performances are always in the Champions League but if you are not at the top level, you cannot compete.
“I’m so happy with what I have, I was so happy last season.
“Last season we did good things but it wasn’t enough.
Storm
“We can do better than last season but I don’t know. We’ll see. I don’t know if we are able to compete for the titles because we are in the process of growing up.”
A huge storm is forecast to hit Rotterdam during the game and there appear to be dark clouds gathering over the fractured relationship between Guardiola and Yaya Toure.
The Ivory Coast star has been left back in Manchester and finds himself frozen out yet again, having failed to play a single minute of the new season so far.
The City boss said: “I spoke with him and he knows why but it’s between him and me. It’s a sporting decision. He was so important last season. He was the only one who stayed. He’s a special player.
“But he didn’t play and he knows why. I want more from Yaya. I want more from everyone.”