Don’t worry Pep, it’s only half-time!
Blues left needing brilliant result in Champions League second leg
PEP Guardiola has told his City players they will have to muster the spirit of Barcelona to keep their Champions League dream alive.
The Catalan refused to accept defeat in their quarter final tie with Liverpool – despite a stunning 3-0 defeat at Anfield.
He is left hoping for a comeback similar to Barca’s epic last 16 tie with Paris St Germain last season, when trailing the first leg 4-0.
Guardiola had famously predicted Lionel Messi and co could still turn the tie around at the Nou Camp which they duly did, winning 6-1 in an unforgettable match.
City will need to do similar at the Etihad next week after goals from Mo Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane put Liverpool in control of the tie.
“In football anything can happen,” said Guardiola. “The result is tough, but I don’t have the feeling (it is over).
“The boxes made the difference and they were so good in those situations.
“I believe a lot in this team. They showed me many good things in the season.
“We have 90 minutes, all of us, Sevilla, Juventus and us.
“We are going to try. It is so complicated because we are going to play a top, top team. “Now it is tough. “We needed one goal, but we couldn’t score it. “In this room there is probably no one convinced we can go through. Tomorrow we are going to try to convince the players they can.” Guardiola knows his side need to keep a clean sheet against Liverpool’s rampant attack at the Etihad to have a real chance to progressing to last four.
And he also wants City’s fans to provide the type of atmosphere to intimidate Klopp’s team.
“Each club, each set of fans has his own atmosphere,” he said. “Anfield, we know how special it is.
“I said to our players we must be ourselves. We were a huge personality.”
He added: “To go through, a clean sheet is so important. We are going to see. Liverpool in some phases are so clinical when they arrive.
“I don’t think it is a problem to defend.”
Klopp agreed with Guardiola that the tie is not yet over.
“Being 3-0 up is better than 3-0 down,” said the Liverpool manager. “Manchester City want to strike back. “They didn’t play bad. “They didn’t create the usual number of chances because we defended outstandingly well.”