Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, was full of praise for his side after their dominant performance against Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Puskas Arena in Hungary. City made it through with a 4-0 aggregate win after another two-nil win in the second leg.
It was the Citizen’s fourth straight qualification for the quarterfinals of the Uefa Champions League.
First-half goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan secured a comfortable victory in another impressive display from Guardiola’s side in the home leg. But the coach insisted they must always keep their focus on the next game and not be allowed to be distracted by what could be a historic season for the club.
City, who have won 24 of their last 25 matches on all fronts, have fallen at the last eight in each of their three appearances under the Spanish coach.
Guardiola says he’s not thinking too much about winning the Champion’s League.
“The first day I arrived here five years ago, they told me that you have to win the Champions League. So, yeah, it’s always on our shoulders. So what? I’m not concerned with that. Football, if you deserve it, you go through, you don’t deserve it, you don’t. I’m not thinking to get semi-finals. I’m thinking to do a good first game and after that a second good game, it’s the only thing (that matters). When you are thinking about what you are going to win, you forget what you have to do, and to do is analyse the opponent, how is our shape? The way we want to play? Our principles? And try to do good games.”
Real Madrid advances to last 8 for first time since 2018
Real Madrid will play in the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2018. A 4-1 aggregate win saw them cruise to the next round after a three-one win over Atalanta in the second leg in Madrid on Tuesday night.
It was a dominant display by Zinedine Zidane’s side and the manager himself confirmed that it was their intention to take charge of the match from start to finish. Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 34th minute, while captain Sergio Ramos and Luis Muriel added to the scoresheet in the second half.
Zidane says it was a very complete match.
“I think we did a great match, it was a very complete match from start to finish. When you have the feeling of making a great match from the start to the end, we are happy because we passed the tie and we are in the quarter finals. Then it will be more difficult and we know that, but we have to enjoy this match.”
Chelsea to take on Atletico Madrid
Chelsea manager Tomas Tuchel is wary of Diego Simione’s side ahead of their second leg clash against Atletico Madrid in London on Wednesday evening. His influential midfielders Jorginho and Mason Mount are suspended, While Thiago Silva and Tammy Abraham are out injured.
Tuchel says Atletico has a very complete squad.
“Well, I believe that every club has its DNA and every club has its characteristic, and with Diego Simeone’s Atletico became one of the toughest teams to beat in Europe over years and years and years; so this is their characteristic. They rely on a disciplined, hardworking, super organised defence. At the same time, they have incredible quality to attack and to play also a possession game. For me, it’s a very complete squad.”
Bayern Munich expected to cruise into last 8
A 4-1 aggregate advantage over Lazio, has all but secured Bayern Munich a spot in the last eight of the competition. The Italian side, which has not qualified for the Champions League in over a decade, made their lives difficult with a heavy defeat at home last week.
However, manager Simone Inzaghi who seems to have accepted defeat, says the next goal for the club is to become regulars in the competition after missing out in recent years.
