CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST16 RED ALERT
‘We won’t go easy on Schalke’ Klopp’s warriors have Europe scared... this Double is ON!
MANCHESTER CITY’S Bernardo Silva insists Pep Guardiola’s men will be taking nothing for granted against Schalke.
City got a plumb last-16 Champions League draw when they were paired with the German club, who are struggling in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga.
The Blues travel to the Veltins Arena on Wednesday night for the first leg and will be expected to complete their passage into the quarter-finals at the Etihad.
But Silva said: “You cannot expect to have an easy game in the Champions League whoever you play.
“Schalke may not be at the top of the Bundesliga, but they have done well in Europe and they will look at the games against us as an opportunity to do well themselves.
“We will have to be at our best to go through – in both games.
“I remember when I was at Monaco and we drew City at the same stage.
“When we lost the first game in Manchester 5-3, no-one expected us to progress.
“But we won the second game 3-1 and went through on the away goals.
“The Champions League is such an important competition that players can find something extra.”
Guardiola won the Champions League twice in three seasons with Barcelona.
But in three years with Bayern Munich and two seasons with City, he has failed to get beyond the semi-finals.
City romped to the Premier
League title with 100 points last year, only to be humbled 5-1 over two legs by Liverpool in Europe.
Silva said: “The games against Liverpool were a big disappointment because last season our performances were so good.”
He added: “Let’s see if we can do better this year.” REDS legend Emile Heskey says no one wants to face Liverpool in the Champions League.
And he also believes that they have finally got the strength and depth to do the domestic title and European double.
The former England striker was part of the Liverpool side that won a cup treble in 2000/01.
That haul included a stunning triumph in the UEFA Cup, with Gerard Houllier’s side winning 5-4 against Spanish side Alaves in Dortmund after overcoming Barcelona in the semi-final.
Now, with Jurgen Klopp’s side flying high in the Premier League, and eyeing a first domestic crown since 1990, Liverpool could be forgiven for focusing their attention on events close to home.
But Heskey, who scored 60 goals in 223 games for the Reds, said: “No one in the Champions League wants to face Liverpool.
“They can destroy sides in a pretty short space of time.
“For the first 15 or 20 minutes they’re all over you. Teams don’t know what has hit them.”
He added: “They’ve got the squad strength to cope with Europe, and still challenge on all fronts.
“Momentum-wise, if you go into those games and get a good result then that you can bring that into the league as well.
Confidence
“Any win in Europe can give you a boost so I don’t think they should go into the game against Bayern on Tuesday and see it as a distraction from the Premier League.
“A win breeds confidence and Liverpool should attack on all fronts.
To progress against the Bundesliga giants, Klopp knows that his side must improve away from home.
Liverpool lost all three of their away matches in the group
2001: Pegguy Arphexad and Heskey (right) after winning the UEFA Cup stages, leaving empty-handed against Paris Saint- Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.
However, Heskey believes this Liverpool side have already demonstrated the strength of character you need to be genuine European contenders.
The former England star, 41, added: “It was important for Jurgen to build a squad capable of mixing it up a little bit.
“The intensity they play at, the way they press and close people down, and the energy that they play with, could make it a long tough season.
“But I think they can hold on. “Games like Leicester (which Klopp’s side drew 1-1) were matches they would have lost in the past.
“You’ve players like Roberto Firmino making challenges in his own box, which showed the kind of desire this team has. “They hate losing games and they hate dropping points.
“It’s about getting through games and it’s about picking up some points when you’re possibly not playing the best football you can play.
“And that is what teams like Manchester United, did so well season after season.”