Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes succeeding in the Champions League this season is “not about inspiration or emotion” after waiting more than 15 months to watch a replay of his team’s win over Inter Milan in the 2022-23 final.
The Italian side had 14 of the 21 attempts at goal between the teams as City became European champions for the first time courtesy of Rodri’s second-half strike in their 1-0 win.
“The way they attack is so difficult to control,” Guardiola said of opponents who visit City on Tuesday (8pm BST), having won the Italian title by 19 points last season. “[Our players] have to know what they have to do. They have to adjust something.
“It’s not about inspiration or emotion. I am so cold on that. It’s the first game of an eight-game group stage. We know what we have to do.”
PEP 💬 We have Gundo back and his position is better there. When he is fit, selection is tough. They have to compete. I want to rotate but they have to prove they are ready when I rotate…. I want them all involved and fresh but they have to be ready to perform. pic.twitter.com/A9NyMk6Qb4
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 17, 2024
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Much of the focus in the build-up to the start of the expanded Champions League format has focused on player welfare. “I want to rotate but [players] have to prove, when I rotate, that they are ready to play,” said the three-time Champions League winner as a manager.
“When they don’t perform well, I rotate well. The business here is to win the next game and not because I give presents for this player or the other one. I want everyone involved because it is the best way – mentally, physically – but they have to perform.”
Reigning Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden remains out, having not featured since playing for 45 minutes of City’s opening win at Chelsea on August 18.
Haaland ‘better’ – Guardiola
City have been significantly boosted by playmaker Kevin De Bruyne’s almost ever-present start to the season and Erling Haaland’s run of nine goals in four matches, taking his total to 99 in 103 City appearances.
“If you examine the next 100 games and he scores 99 goals, for me, it’s fine,” quipped Guardiola. “Don’t improve, don’t improve. Score in the next 100 games, 99 goals – I will be more than delighted.
PEP 💬 (On whether he is surprised by Erling Haaland’s stats) A little bit, yeah. Do you know why? I played for 11 years and scored 11 goals. This guy in four games scored nine goals! pic.twitter.com/ZkjFYFqELf
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 17, 2024
“The difference to last season is he feels better. He came from Dortmund [in June 2022] with a lot of problems, muscular. He struggled a bit.
“So far [this season] he feels ‘I’m clean, I feel good here and no problems’, but… with Kevin, it’s the same. Every three or four days it’s game, game, game. I don’t know [about their fitness] in one, two or three months’ time.”
City are the only Premier League team with a perfect record and are at home on Sunday (4.30pm) to Arsenal, who are two points behind.
