MX23RW : Friday, November 8 18:57:49| >> :60:54:54:
[monks data]
Olympiacos
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 25, 2020 at 5.55pm UK
Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki
Manchester City logo

Olympiacos
0 - 1
Man City


Rafinha (39')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Foden (36')
Sterling (39'), Dias (54'), Gundogan (86')

Pep Guardiola addresses Manchester City's Champions League hopes

City's run was halted by Lyon at the quarter-final stage last season.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is confident of an extended run in the Champions League this season.

Guardiola believes his side will be determined to make amends after their frustrating quarter-final exit at the hands of Lyon last term.

City can secure their place in the knockout stages for an eighth consecutive year with victory over Olympiacos in Greece on Wednesday.

Guardiola said: "We need one more game to be there mathematically, so that is great. With respect to the other ones, I have a feeling we will do really well this season.

"I don't know why but I've felt it from the beginning. I expect a reaction after last season when we finished against Lyon in Portugal. We know what we have to do."

City have looked comfortable in Europe this term, winning their opening three matches in Group C.

Their Premier League form has been a different matter, with points dropped in five of their first eight games, but Guardiola also expects that to turn around.

City were beaten at Tottenham last weekend
City were beaten at Tottenham last weekend (Clive Rose/PA)

The Catalan said: "We know we are a team who last season scored a lot but now we are struggling. But we have to find solutions. We have the players to find the right way to attack more fluently and I have the feeling we can score goals.

"The way we play is quite good, I'm quite happy. The little details we still have to improve. We conceded penalties that are not necessary, sometimes we need clear chances to score.

"But the moment we break one or two of these kind of things we will get better. The season is still young and I'm fully optimistic we are going to do a good season."

Guardiola has won six major trophies, including two Premier League titles, in his four years at City and last week he agreed a new contract through to 2023. Winning the Champions League is now a top priority for the club but Guardiola insists the competition is not all-consuming.

"It's not an obsession," he said. "I say it every season, we are going to try our best."

The intensity of the English fixture list this shortened season could work against the Premier League clubs in Europe, however, and Guardiola recognises this is another obstacle that must be overcome.

He said: "Every season this league is (at a) disadvantage with the rest of the leagues, not just in this special year with Covid-19, for that we've had to adapt to.

Sergio Aguero has recovered from a hamstring injury
Sergio Aguero has recovered from a hamstring injury (Martin Rickett/PA)

"Even when the situation is normal – no winter breaks, a lot of games, a lot of competitions, intensity, the weather conditions, the pitches – many, many things.

"But that is attractive and the challenge is this one. When you are able to do it, that is nice."

Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy are all back in contention for City after recent lay-offs.

ID:423671: cacheID:423671:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7824:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero in action on October 17, 2020
Read Next:
Pep Guardiola refuses to rush Sergio Aguero back too soon
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
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!