“We are looking forward to competing with the best teams in the Premier League and in Europe but we are far, far away”.
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After 37 years during which they did not play a single game in Europe’s top club competition, Gladbach are appearing in the Champions League group phase for the second season running.
Raheem Sterling believes competition for places is behind Manchester City’s fine start to the season under Pep Guardiola. Add to that Fabian Delph, Fernando and Toure – who can play in Premier League only – and it would seem Guardiola has more quality to rotate his squad without impacting too much on the quality of his starting lineup. Of course we are so happy for the results, for the numbers, for the way we are playing after two months.
Guardiola will welcome Sergio Aguero back from a domestic suspension, with captain Vincent Kompany and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan continuing to build their fitness, but much focus is likely to fall upon Bravo on his home debut following an erratic initial showing in City colours.
“Leroy’s come in and he’s a really good guy who I speak to a lot, but obviously he plays the same position”.
Guardiola said that Andre Schubert’s Monchengladbach – European Cup finalists against Liverpool in Rome 40 years ago next summer – were a “brave” side who sometimes played three at the back, attacked in numbers and had always made life hard for him at Bayern.
“I never, when I start the season, say when I win the Premier League or don’t, or win the Champions League or don’t, how I will be judged”.
“They are not going to save all the goals”.
“I saw the goal and after that, he showed huge personality”, he said.
“Last season was wonderful but I want more”.
“I don’t think there is a team in the world that can not be got at”, he told the Bundesliga website. 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.
The lavish investment made by City’s majority owner Sheikh Mansour has yielded two Premier League titles, two League Cups and one FA Cup, but it is in Europe that he truly desires to see the team succeed. “I am pretty sure of that”.
“I’m not anxious about the meeting with Man City, as it will be a completely different game”.
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. “It was a massive learning step past year”.
“The draw was hard”.
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Specifically on the display against United, Guardiola said: “The first half was good – our build-up was correct, patient, and we attacked in the right moments”.
