Guardiola hails side despite setbacks

Manager says team is ‘extraordinary’

Pep Guardiola says his “extraordinary” and “exceptional” Manchester City side will not give up in their quest to overturn the odds against Liverpool.

City host the Reds in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tonight facing a monumental task to overhaul a 3-0 aggregate deficit following last week’s humbling at Anfield.

That loss on Merseyside was followed by a surprising Manchester derby capitulation, with the Premier League leaders surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to United on Saturday, but Guardiola continues to back his players.

Guardiola said: “I know I will be judged on results but the performances – my team is extraordinary. My team is not comparable to many others. It is top. My team is exceptional.

“I will be close to them no matter what happens here until the end of the season. It is a joy to be manager of that team, even two days ago, after the way we played. I am so delighted.”

Whatever the outcome, Guardiola believes tonight’s tie will prove a good experience for his team.

He said: “If we are not able to do it, psychologically, it will be a good lesson for the future. We are not here for just a few months. We’re here for a long period, especially the players.”

Guardiola is not expecting any repeat of the crowd trouble which saw the City team bus attacked by Liverpool fans ahead of the first leg.

Top scorer Sergio Aguero is set to make his first start for a month after returning from a knee injury in the latter stages on Saturday.

Aguero was felled in a controversial challenge in that game from United’s Ashley Young, which went unpunished, and the matter clearly still bothers Guardiola. Asked if Aguero was hurt in that challenge, Guardiola said sarcastically: “He’s diving.”

Guardiola insisted he has not lost faith in defender John Stones, revealing his absence at the weekend was due to a muscle injury. He said: “I decided not to take a risk.

“He is now not in the same level (of fitness) as Vinny (Kompany), Aymeric (Laporte) and Nico (Otamendi). But he knows the confidence I have in him, how well he has done in two years, especially this season.”

Left-back Benjamin Mendy (knee) is the only definite absentee.

Picture: PA. Pep Guardiola has plenty to think about ahead of tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Liverpool.