Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola does not want to be carried away with the club’s 3-0 victory over Olympiakos in the UEFA Champions League group C match on Tuesday. He believes that his players were not sharp enough despite scoring three goals without conceding any.
The Spanish tactician wants his team to be sharper when they come against the reigning Premier League champions, Liverpool football club, this weekend, November 8, 2020.
So far in this season’s Champions League campaign, Pep Guardiola and his men have been unstoppable. The Premier League club has won three out of three champions league fixtures. In the three wins, Guardiola’s men have scored a total number of 9 goals and conceded just a goal. This performance has kept them top of Group C with 9 perfect points.
But the Premier League runner up of the 2019-2020 season have not been able to replicate such form in the league. It has been so bad for Pep Guardiola and his boys that they are currently occupying the 10th spot on the league table.
So far, Manchester City has played 6 league matches in which the club managed to win three, draw two and lose one. Their game against Liverpool is a must-win for City as it is for Liverpool that currently occupies the top spot on the league table with 16 points in 7 games.
With the understanding of what awaits City this weekend, Pep Guardiola doesn’t want his players to miss as many opportunities against Liverpool as they did against Olympiakos. The Premier League side had 20 shots in the match, 7 of the shots were on target but only three of the shots ended at the back of the net which did not impress Guardiola.
“We missed the chances to score more goals, in that way we have to finish the game”, Guardiola said. “At 1-0 the game is open, they created chances.
“But when we got the second the game was over and the first half was good. The last pass and last shot were not perfect but, in general, the first half and the last 15 minutes were really good.”
Pep Guardiola is happy that Jesus is back
One big positive Pep Guardiola took from the match is the fact that his injured striker, Gabriel Jesus, has returned from injury and played a significant part in the club’s 3-0 victory.
The Brazilian forward scored the club’s second goal of the match in the 80th minute to make it impossible for the visitors to fight back. Manchester City sealed the victory through the boots of João Cancelo in the 90th minute.
But Guardiola who is more interested in what Manchester City can do against Liverpool this weekend was more excited that Jesus returned early enough for Liverpool’s game.
“It was important, of course, the fact he’s back”, Guardiola noted. “It’s good news, especially for the striker to score a brilliant goal. I’m delighted with most of the game and happy that Gabriel is back.”
Happy to be back here doing what i love. Great performance tonight. Come on, City!#alômãe#gratidão#doPeri pic.twitter.com/BjPqQu4243
— Gabriel Jesus (@gabrieljesus9) November 3, 2020
