Guardiola previews Man City's Champions League trip to Leipzig
The storm which whipped Leipzig on Tuesday saw Manchester City advised to change travel arrangements and opt for calmer conditions of a late evening arrival. But ahead of take off Ruben Dias warned their hosts not to unbatten the hatches ahead of their Group G clash at the Red Bull Arena.
Victory in last season’s Champions League Final, the final part of treble has made Pep Guardiola’s side more not less hungry to repeat the feat against this season. And if two defeats in the last week – in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle and Premier League against Wolves – sees City arrive in a rare off-kilter moment, there was calm assurance from Dias when asked about the state of the camp.
“More beautiful than doing it once is to do it twice and more beautiful than winning three Premier Leagues in a row is to win four,” said the Portugal international. “More beautiful than winning one Champions League is to win two in a row and the same goes for the FA Cup. The motivation couldn’t be any higher.
“We are aware we have done something very special but we are all very young and very hungry as well.” City’s travel disruption meant they were aiming for a late arrival in Leipzig but it had its benefits, not least a potentially scary landing.
“The authorities said it was so risky to fly before so that’s why we made the training session longer and the lunch longer,” he said. “We have time to rest and now we are going to fly.”
It should not affect City negatively but Leipzig will cling to any positive they can in a group match they could do with taking at least a point from. A 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich at the weekend gave manager Marco Rose’s men a timely fillip ahead of a clash with the side who beat them 7-0 the last time they met in the last 16 second leg last March.
There is also heart to be taken from the two home clashes against Guardiola’s Premier League champions with a 1-1 draw here in the first leg of that knockout clash and a 2-1 win in the group stage in December 2021.
The return of Rodri to City’s midfield which looked devoid of inspiration against Wolves will help City right a listing ship. “We all know the influence and the player he is, what he can give to us. There’s not too much to debate, his presence is important to all of us.
Man City train ahead of RB Leipzig clash
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“But we also know how difficult Leipzig can be as a team, they’re always young, full of energy. They’re very forward-thinking. They love to play the game, we expect nothing else other than a very difficult one. We need to do a good job.
“It’s never a good day when we don’t win but I guess that’s the standard we have at the club. It’s always an intense moment when it happens, that’s the way it should be.
“We don’t lose our happiness and enthusiasm. It’s good we feel it that way and hate it that much. That’s what keeps us winning.”
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