I saw the game (again) yesterday we played against United to realise the things we made good and which things we have to improve.
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However, the focal point in Group C will be Guardiola’s attempt to elevate City to a level similar to that of Barca, with whom he won the title as a player in 1992 and twice more as coach. “As always when there is a defeat, we have to analyse it and correct it for the next game”.
But the 21-year-old felt some of the flak he received last term was unfair and he vowed to close his ears to it as he returned to training after the summer.
‘What Jose Mourinho wasn’t helped by was the performances of his players, he made two changes at half-time, but specifically, the performance of Paul Pogba, ‘ the former Liverpool defender said on Monday Night Football. He showed huge personality.
Guardiola: “He (Bravo) was awesome with the feet and the saves and going to attack the ball, I am happy for him”.
“For a central midfielder in a game of that magnitude, I think for the first 40 minutes it was one of the most ill-disciplined performances you will see”. No-one says I am willing to do my best for club and country. Claudio Bravo, Willy (Caballero) and Angus (Gunn) are going to make mistakes in the future, they are not going to save all the goals and opponents are going to score goals.
“It feels like I am at home”, he said. “I’m pretty sure of that”.
The same can not be said of Monchengladbach, who City beat twice in the group phase last season before going on to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
“Bravo is so strong”, said the ex-Barcelona boss, continuing his post-match backing for the Chile global. “I simply leave it alone”.
Guardiola was unable to deliver the Champions League trophy in his three years at Bayern, but his successor in Bavaria, Carlo Ancelotti, boasts renowned European pedigree.
Fourth in the Bundesliga last season, Moenchengladbach had crushed BSC Young Boys 9-2 on aggregate in the Champions League play-offs and opened their domestic campaign with a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
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For Jurgen Klopp to break the habit, he must find something in these players that is missing and Hull City is as good a team to start with as any. “When you start a game of football, even if it’s against the best team in the world, you have to go there and show what you can do and give everything to try and get a result”. They have a lot of quality.
