MX23RW : Friday, December 27 02:29:14| >> :120:12570:12570:
[monks data]
Attendance: 49,046
Manchester City logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 1, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Dinamo Zagreb

2-0

Sterling (66'), Foden (95')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Pep Guardiola: 'No pressure to win Champions League with Manchester City'

The Manchester City boss has won five of the last six domestic trophies on offer but success in Europe has so far proven elusive.

Pep Guardiola claims he does not feel under pressure to win the Champions League at Manchester City.

Europe's top club prize is now the last remaining target for the former Barcelona boss at the Etihad Stadium after winning five of the last six domestic trophies on offer.

Yet while Guardiola does have a strong desire to reclaim the trophy he won twice with the Spanish giants, he insists it is not the be-all and end-all.

"I want to win this tournament but if I don't, it will not change my life. I am not going to kill myself," said Guardiola ahead of his side's second group match of this season's competition against Dinamo Zagreb.

"In my first press conference in my first year in Manchester it was the same question – 'you are here to win the Champions League'.

"I said 'OK' but I spoke a few times with Khaldoon (Al Mubarak), our chairman, and Ferran (Soriano, chief executive). They didn't tell me that.

Pep Guardiola points the way forward in Manchester City training
Pep Guardiola points the way forward in Manchester City training (Barrington Coombs/PA)

"They told me I came here to continue a project, to try to play good football and start to win one game, then another, and another one. Then we will see how far we get.

"Of course we are going to try but, I'm sorry, I'm not going to live the next 10 months, or next season, thinking if I don't win the Champions League it will be a disaster in my life, because my life is quite good, every single day."

Asked if winning the Champions League would be the next step, Guardiola said: "Yes, definitely, but sometimes it cannot be possible."

Kevin De Bruyne is a doubt for the visit of the Croatian champions in Group C after missing a training session on Monday.

No reason was given for the Belgian's absence but there had been speculation he may have suffered an injury after being substituted in the 80th minute of Saturday's game at Everton.

Dinamo have won just one of their 11 contests against English opposition but, after winning a 13th domestic title in 14 years last season, they began the Champions League well with a 4-0 thrashing of Atalanta.

Kevin De Bruyne, left, missed training on Monday
Kevin De Bruyne (left) missed training on Monday (Peter Byrne/PA)

The odds are against them surprising City in similar fashion but coach Nenad Bjelica is targeting an upset.

He said: "We have to play with a big heart but we can achieve a big result against an opponent like this. We want to give everything to get a successful result.

"I know it is very difficult and very few clubs manage to do that at Manchester City but we will have our chances. Many things have to click to get the result but we will try our best."

ID:373488: cacheID:373488:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8198:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on September 21, 2019
Read Next:
City boss Pep Guardiola warns of "aggressive" Dinamo Zagreb side
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


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!