Manchester City v Monaco: Pep Guardiola says critics will 'kill' City if they lose
Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants his players to embrace the pressure of their Champions League last-16 tie against Monaco - even though he knows the club's critics will "kill them" if they do not progress.
Ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola has won the competition twice as a coach, and never failed to reach the semi-finals in seven attempts.
"To be here is not easy," he said.
"I want to convince the players to enjoy that moment. It is beautiful."
While Guardiola's previous two employers have been European champions 10 times between them, City reached their first semi-final last season and have progressed to the knockout round only four times.
"People can think Manchester City have to be here but a lot of big clubs are not here," said the 46-year-old. "We are lucky guys.
"Our recent history is quite good but over the long history, Manchester City was not here for a long time.
"All of Europe will watch us, to analyse us, to kill us if we don't win or say how good we are if we do."
De Bruyne 'doing well' despite fewer goals
City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne goes into the game having scored five goals in 32 appearances for the club this season.
Last term - his debut campaign having joined from Wolfsburg for a club-record £55m in August 2015 - he scored 18 goals in all competitions.
The 25-year-old Belgian says he is not interested in the figures because he is "playing better" this season.
"It doesn't bother me at all that I haven't scored as often," he said. "Not everyone sees I am playing lower on the pitch.
"I know how well I am doing for the team and if we can win a title, I will be very happy."
Comments
Join the conversation
Hoping for a good game
megabucks and showing no real desire or commitment - too busy
counting the dosh.They won't threaten any of the far better teams
in this competition.
And whose cash did MU splash?
Out of interest can you name a few businesses that were successful from adopting the 'massive capital investment to break even' tactics?
Think City need to win tonight because the away game is going to very tough
---------
So is the home game by the looks of things.
I would rather love watching Burnley or Bournemouth play a good football than, watching a club which assembled prima donnas strolling on football field.
Respect is when you assemble a team with talented individual players than, buy any average players and form a team just to show off money. Just ridiculous..
"MU no better than Blackburn on the day"
When one team wins and the other loses that constitutes 'better on the day'.
"No better than Blackburn on the day" is signified by a draw i.e ManC v Huddersfield.
They won't see cheap football. All the top clubs are bankrolled by forrin money so they will continue to exist but there will be a significant drop off below the money belt (Championship) imo. Football will remain expensive unfortunately - the peoples game indeed!!!
.......you could be in the Europa league instead!
C'mon St Etienne!!! Do us all a favour 😆
If I was Pep and I am sure he think like this I wouldnt give a hoot what the media or anyone else thinks. Next season is gonna be a cracker, cant wait, but still plenty in this season to look forward too, best in a long time.