Preview: Manchester City need to produce 'the perfect game' says Pep Guardiola
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Updated 10/04/2018 at 08:24 GMT
Manchester City Pep Guardiola believes his team require "the perfect game" as they attempt to overturn a 3-0 deficit in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola vs. Jürgen Klopp
Image credit: Getty Images
Match context
City head into the huge second leg on the back of a 3-2 defeat and crushing disappointment in the Premier League to rivals Manchester United on Saturday when a win would have secured the title.
City were eliminated last season in the last 16 by Monaco, and it would be devastating for them to fail to make the last four after such a dominant season domestically.
Guardiola's side gave up a two-goal lead against United and they know that they must deliver a nearly faultless match to overcome Liverpool's advantage.
City have shipped six goals in their past two games but cannot afford to be at all sloppy against Jurgen Klopp's men.
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, left, and Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola
Image credit: PA Sport
Guardiola needs 'perfect game'
In Guardiola's mind, there can be no further slip-ups.
"Of course to go through you have to make the perfect game, create chances, be clinical, concede few chances, all the conditions have to be perfect," said the Spaniard.
"The result is tough but we have 90 minutes and in football anything can happen. What we are going to do is try. We have to score the first one, then make the second one. We'll see the momentum, try to keep it longer and then we'll see.
"I’m so delighted to lose the way we lose vs United, I don’t want to lose, we are sad. But the way we played, even after 2-3, it is outstanding. I’m so happy.
"If we concede, don't give up - it's more than 90 minutes. We have very often created a lot of chances in short period of time and we have to be clinical. And if we are not clinical then move on to the next one," he said.
'City need titles'
Guardiola believes that his side is growing and will soon be among the real elite of European football.
"We need titles in Europe - it's complicated but you need nights that make you understand it," he said.
"Beating Barca (last season) was so special because we know they're the best team in the world but it will happen sooner or later.
"With what this club has done in the last 10 years in terms of creating facilities and making it bigger it will happen. (To compete with) the big clubs you need time but hopefully we can do it. Maybe next year but soon it will happen."
Team news
For City, defenders John Stones and Danilo were both absent from training on Monday, but Guardiola expects both to be fit for the match.
Sergio Aguero is also believed to be fit, despite receiving a tough challenge from Ashley Young in the Manchester derby on Saturday.
For Liverpool boss Klopp, the fitness of star forward Mohamed Salah is crucial ahead of the match.
"We have to see. We have to wait for the reaction tomorrow. Then we'll make a decision. That's it."
The 38-goal forward has been suffering with a groin strain since the first leg against City, but he trained on Monday.
Captain Jordan Henderson is suspended, but defenders Andrew Robertson and Alberto Moreno are both fit to play.
'Liverpool mood is special'
The German revealed in his press conference on Monday that a decision on Salah's fitness would be made on Tuesday prior to kick-off and that the mood inside his camp is rather special.
"In the club, the mood is special at this moment. You can feel it," Klopp said.
"It is not easy to be part of the normal life and feel and hear what people are saying about the excitement and importance of the competition.
"You feel that European nights for LFC [Liverpool Football Club] are special. Expectation is big.
"But we are not more experienced than the City players in this competition. We are trying to do our best to gain experience. Tomorrow night is a big test for both teams."
Match facts
- Only two teams in Champions League history have overturned a 3+ goal deficit from the first leg in the knockout stages – Deportivo vs Milan in 2003-04 and Barcelona vs PSG last season.
- Manchester City won their home league game against Liverpool 5-0 this season – their only win in their last nine games against them in all competition (D2 L6).
- Liverpool could become the first team to beat Manchester City three times in the same season since Manchester United in 2009-10.
- Man City have only lost one of their last 13 Champions League home games (W9 D3), though it was in the last round against FC Basel (1-2).
- The Reds are unbeaten in their last five Champions League away games (W2 D3). They last went six without defeat on the road in the competition between March-December 2005, during which time they won the trophy.
- Liverpool have scored more goals than any other side in his season’s Champions League (31). Man Utd (32 in 2002-03) are the only English team to score more in a single season in the competition.
- Four of the six previous teams to have eliminated a side managed by Pep Guardiola in the Champions League have gone on to win the trophy, with the exceptions being Atletico Madrid in 2015-16 and Monaco in 2016-17.
- Liverpool’s James Milner has provided more assists than any other player in the Champions League this season (7).
- Meanwhile, only Cristiano Ronaldo (17) has been directly involved in more goals in the competition than Roberto Firmino (11 – 7 goals, 4 assists).
- Jurgen Klopp has beaten Pep Guardiola more often than any other manager (six wins).
- Pep Guardiola has only lost both legs of a Champions League knockout tie once before – with Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the 2013-14 semi-finals.
Additional reporting from Reuters, stats provided by Opta
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