MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 16:07:07| >> :120:6852:6852:
[monks data]
Manchester City logo
Champions League | Round of 16 | 2nd Leg
Mar 6, 2024 at 8pm UK
Etihad Stadium
FC Copenhagen

Man City
3 - 1
Copenhagen

Akanji (5'), Alvarez (9'), Haaland (45+3')
FT(HT: 3-1)
Elyounoussi (29')
Cornelius (84'), Mattsson (90')

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City must "respect" Copenhagen in Champions League

Guardiola insists Man City must
© Reuters
Pep Guardiola warns Manchester City against complacency and urges his players to "respect" Copenhagen ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola is keen to ensure that complacency does not creep into his Manchester City side when they welcome Copenhagen to the Etihad Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

The reigning European and world champions currently hold a two-goal advantage over their Danish counterparts after they claimed a 3-1 first-leg victory at Parken Stadium three weeks ago.

Man City have not lost any of their previous five meetings with Copenhagen, winning their last home encounter 5-0 in October 2022, but Guardiola has insisted that "everything can happen" in football and his side must "respect" Wednesday's opposition.

"In football everything can happen, and we have to be aware of that," Guardiola said at a press conference on Tuesday. "We have respect for Copenhagen and how they play.

"The Champions League is Champions League. The best eight teams in Europe [will move to the next round]. We have the chance to be in quarter-finals again and this is the target. We're not far off that.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on March 3, 2024© Reuters

"The way Copenhagen defend – they are compact – and all the movements they do really well. I am always aware of the opponents, but I especially look at our players.

"We struggled there last season; Bayern Munich were not able to win in Copenhagen (during the group stage).

"They play two years in a row with the same manager (Jacob Neestrup), and they have a strong striker. They are compact and do really good movements."

"My concern is always there," Guardiola added. "Otherwise I would not be here, but I prefer to start 3-1 up rather than 0-1 down.

"I would like us to be ahead 7-0, but that normally doesn't happen in the Champions League. I want us to perform the way we have to do.

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring their second goal on February 13, 2024© Reuters

"Red cards or bad decisions can happen in football. If we conceded another goal in the group stages, we are second in the table and the draw would have been Real Madrid not Copenhagen.

"In football the details make the difference. Prepare well, mentally and read what they have to do. Respect Copenhagen, because this competition deserves it."

Guardiola believes that the Champions League has become stronger in recent years, adding: "The competition is getting better, tougher. Always I have the feeling to arrive in the semi-finals is harder.

"Teams are better, managers are better. More difficult now than when I was a player. But at the end the better teams always go through."

Meanwhile, the Catalan boss has confirmed that Jack Grealish is "not ready" to return from a groin injury and was unable to put a timeframe on his potential comeback.

Man City are looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 20 games when they face Copenhagen, who suffered a 2-0 away defeat to Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga last Friday.

ID:538257:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4374:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Pep Guardiola

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Game History

How you voted: Man City vs Copenhagen

Manchester City
88.0%
Draw
9.1%
Copenhagen
2.9%
276
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts on January 26, 2024
Read Next:
Guardiola: 'Man City have the mentality to retain Champions League'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!