After winning the first leg with a comfortable 0-5, City can take a lighter approach on the return fixture.
Advertisement
Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sané and Vincent Kompany are back in training, but are not expected back until next month. “We have ten days to work with them and improve their physical conditions”. “Hopefully when we come back from the worldwide break they will be fully part of our training sessions”.
“Bacary Sagna is not available”.
“Yes, he has a chance to play”, Guardiola said. Maybe at Old Trafford. “After that I will be open to answer questions but in this moment he is not our player”.
“I am really impressed with the players as human beings and with their performance”, said Guardiola.
It was Bojan that stepped forward for the Potters and the former Barcelona youngster found the far corner from the spot to make it a 2-1 game with still more than 40 minutes to play at the newly-named Bet365 Stadium.
“Everybody knows nothing is done until it is done”.
“To win 4-1 here is very good and we have scored nine goals in two games”.
Shaun Maloney and Abel Hernandez struck late for Hull City as they won 2-0 at Swansea City. We could play and receive a red card inside ten minutes… then a penalty… then another red card ten minutes later!’
“They have a lot of quality and that’s why we can show it here, at one of the toughest games in the Premier League with the wind, the slow pitch”. The last player to miss two spot-kicks in a Champions League qualifier was Ivica Vrdoljak for Legia Warsaw v Celtic in July 2014. I’m pretty sure of that.
“Two-nil was a little harsh on us, especially as we should have had a penalty in the first half against Joe Allen”.
Guardiola also praised young striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who came off the bench and proved influential in City’s third and fourth goals against Stoke.
Meanwhile, Everton – which seemed a potential destination late last week – now appear to have cooled their interest, partly due to Hart’s wages, which are beyond their current structure, and the early-season form of new signing Maarten Stekelenburg.
“There were elements I was pleased with and others to work on”. We have to try and finish the action.
“I haven’t had any private discussions with Pep”. Whenever I get my chance, I will do my best for the team.
“We have a target as a team but we don’t have individual targets”. It’s not pressure, it’s a dream come true. As long as it’s consistent, from this game to the end of the season, I haven’t got a problem with it.
Team-mate Kevin De Bruyne said: “He’s a great player”.
“Everyone is working together as a team”.
Advertisement
Gomes was partially at fault for Chelsea’s equalizer in the 80th, failing to hold Eden Hazard’s long-range shot and allowing Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi – one of Chelsea’s two off-season signings – to score from the rebound.
