MX23RW : Friday, January 31 01:33:24| >> :120:5659:5659:

Pep Guardiola insists Man City will not sit on first-leg lead

Pep Guardiola insists Man City will not sit on first-leg lead
© Reuters
City hold a 2-1 advantage in the Champions League semi-final from the first leg in Paris.

Pep Guardiola has no intention of sitting back as Manchester City look to finish off Paris St Germain and reach the Champions League final.

City carry a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of their semi-final tie at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Guardiola said: "It is a privilege to be here. For most of us in this club it is the first time and we are going to do a good game.

City secured a memorable victory in the first leg last week
City secured a memorable victory in the first leg last week (Julien Poupert/PA Wire)

"What we have to do is win the game and after we will see what happens."

Guardiola won the competition twice with Barcelona but this is the furthest he has got in five attempts with City.

The Spaniard has often been accused of over-thinking matters in the past but he insists his message to his players is a simple one.

He said: "We arrive in a good moment and I said to the guys, 'Don't think too much to win the game'. It's like we have done many times this season.

"It is the same message of the last six or seven months. We approach this game like another game. We start with a small advantage but we have to play to win the game. This is all we are going to do."

Kylian Mbappe is a fitness doubt for PSG
Kylian Mbappe is a fitness doubt for PSG (Julien Poupert/PA Wire)

PSG have a fitness doubt over one of their star players, Kylian Mbappe, but Guardiola is fully expecting him to feature.

He said: "He is going to play – and I am looking forward to him playing, for the football and the game itself."

Defender John Stones is confident City can complete the job and reach the final for the first time in the club's history.

He said: "I think (we are) quietly confident, we have to be. It is a big occasion for us as players and as a club, a chance to get into a Champions League final.

"We have got to go into it where we left off. We are really confident and excited for the challenge ahead."

ID:445891: cacheID:445891:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5866:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on March 7, 2021
Read Next:
Man City 'still under investigation for FFP breaches'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22165154213353
2Arsenal23138244212347
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2313553327644
4Manchester CityMan City23125647301741
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle23125641271441
6Chelsea23117545301540
7Bournemouth23117541261540
8Aston Villa2310763435-137
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2381053531434
10Fulham238963431333
11Brentford2394104240231
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd2385102832-429
13Crystal Palace236982630-427
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2376102844-1627
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs2373134637924
16Everton225891928-923
17Leicester CityLeicester2345142549-2417
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2344153252-2016
19Ipswich TownIpswich2337132147-2616
20Southampton2313191653-376


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!