Diego loved game more than anyone
PEP PAYS TRIBUTE AFTER CITY WIN
PEP GUARDIOLA added his tribute to Diego Maradona, describing the Argentina legend as one of the greatest of all time.
The City manager watched his side secure Champions League knockout football for an eighth consecutive year with victory over Olympiakos as Phil Foden’s goal separated the sides.
Victory in a game City dominated from the off allowed them to wrap up qualification with two games to spare.
But the result was understandably overshadowed by news of Maradona’s passing.
“Our first thought is to support Sergio Aguero because for his son, Diego was his grandfather,” said Guardiola. “There was a banner in Argentina one time I read years ago where it said, ‘ It doesn’t matter what you’ve done with your life, it matters what you’ve done with our lives’.
“He was one of the most incredible figures of our lives and on behalf of City we send a big hug. It is difficult to find a person or player that loved the game more.
“There are few incredible players in all history and he is one of them. In all senses he was outstanding.”
The return of Maradona’s former son- in- law Aguero, who came on as a second- half substitute for his first appearance since suffering hamstring trouble at the end of last month, was a bonus for Guardiola, right.
Particularly given that hat for all their domination on against a side who o seemed more intent t on just losing g narrowly, City failed d to add a killer blow.
In the Premier er League, City have failed led to score more than once nce in their past six games but, t until til l last t night, they had not struggled for goals in Europe this season.
Here they pinged the ball about everywhere but in the net. Apart from Foden’s first- half strike after a beautiful move, with Rodri feeding Gabriel Jesus, who slid the ball to Raheem Sterling.
The striker motored to the left byline before backheeling into the path of Foden, who buried the shot from 12 yards out.
Given that was in the 36th minute, City should have added to it but poor finishing saw them register 11 attempts on target without unduly troubling the Olympiakos goalkeeper Jose Sa.
City face Burnley at the Etihad on Saturday and could need more to defe defeat Sean Dyche’s men than they did against the Greek champions missing six first- choice players through C Covid- 19 or injury.
They certainly need to find their killer ins instinct. Foden said: “It’s something we need to wor work on, scoring more goals, l b but t we created chances and hopefully one day we can get there and finish enough chances to win comfortably,” he said.
The return of Aguero will help. OLYMPIAKOS ( 3- 4- 3): Sa 7; Semedo 6, Ba 6, Cisse 7; Drager 5 ( Vrousai 66 5), M’Vila 6, Pepe 4 ( Bouchalakis 71), Rafinha 5; Camara 5, Fortounis 5, Masouras 6 ( Soudani 78).
Ederson 6; Cancelo 7, Stones 7, Dias 7, Mendy 4 ( Zinchenko 78); Gundogan 5 ( Doyle 86), Rodri 6 ( Fernandinho 76), Foden 8; Bernardo 5, Jesus 5 ( Aguero 78), Sterling 6 ( Mahrez 76). Foden 36.