Pep Guardiola praised the strength of Manchester City’s squad as they reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the seventh consecutive years.
Guardiola changed seven players for Wednesday night’s second leg win against Copenhagen with Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne given the night off with Sunday’s titanic Premier League clash against Liverpool coming up next.
City were still too strong for the Danes, repeating their 3-1 first leg win to advance 6-2 on aggregate. Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland were the scorers, all in the first half.
‘I needed energy and fresh legs, I know how tired and my other exhausted some of my players were,’ said Guardiola.
‘I know how Phil ran against United. I spoke with all of them, they said they were tired. The Premier League is the only place where you play Sunday and then Wednesday in the Champions League.
‘Talk to the Premier League about it? No way. It doesn’t depend on them – it is the broadcasters. They pay a lot of money so shut up!’
‘We were lucky to score two early goals because this competition is so dangerous.
‘Our squad is 20 players, not 12. Of course there are players who play more than the other ones. But everyone makes a contribution and today I needed fresh people.’
Guardiola said he wouldn’t take questions on Liverpool until his press conference on Friday, eager to big up the achievement of reaching the quarter-finals again in Europe’s premier competition.
‘I had a feeling when I arrived from Bayern and Barceloa who were always about winning that people here didn’t feel we could do it.
‘Managers don’t normally get time but they gave us time to lose against Monaco, Liverpool, Tottenham, the process to do it.
‘It is easier for teams with history. You can’t change it by one person coming from Catalonia clicking his fingers. But they gave us time. Seven times in the quarter-finals, that means consistency. We can compete against anyone.’
Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis were two of the youngsters drafted in by Guardiola who made a contribution. Sergio Gomez replaced Rodri at half-time.
The Copenhagen manager Jacob Neestrup dropped an f-bomb when describing how tough it is to face City.
‘They work f***ing hard,’ he exclaimed with some emphasis to sniggers from the assembled press corps.
Cityfanchamp23
0
money create squad depth, but nobody dare to charge city, no more ffp
cry more
serena19
1
watch some kids crying here for no reason just hating on us cuz we the best team in England turning prem into farmer league and we keep winning titles while others can't stop us😉
Remcenrz
0
You already did your ground work with the ref and VAR, so you could put in a weak squad in a UCL match, even though your advantage was slim from the first leg, considering there was no longer home advantage, and also seeing that your opponent had been playing well against teams like Bayern, Galatasaray and Manchester United. Which coach will treat UCL knockout like Carabao cup if he hadn't done his ground work? This coach carries his fraudulent attitude everywhere. This is why we love Mou and we can all see that Mou is 100 times more tactical than Pep.
Why are you stressing your self to write all this ? All because of someone glory 😂😂
Moybeklor
0
But he'll start non of those players at anfield, Mr fear
malablata
0
Do you have brain yes or no?
Go and look in your m*m yansh, the answer there.
Destrothegoat
1
I ought to be digging in your m*m yansh. If you're not home trained and you come on a football site and instead of discussing football you go on insulting people you haven't met, we will bring the streets to you. This is just the start, keep replying rubbish, I will bring you other versions. Don't go to the football argument, come and think you are the only one on earth that was self grown on the streets.
Do you have brain yes or no?
malablata
0
You good for nothing 🙉 u ought to be in the zoo where your fellows animals are
I ought to be digging in your m*m yansh. If you're not home trained and you come on a football site and instead of discussing football you go on insulting people you haven't met, we will bring the streets to you. This is just the start, keep replying rubbish, I will bring you other versions. Don't go to the football argument, come and think you are the only one on earth that was self grown on the streets.
Omo_Ologo
0
Oil money can't manager average teams . Horrible Pep 😂
d same way someone can't escape sack in all his clubs except 2
Omo_Ologo
0
You already did your ground work with the ref and VAR, so you could put in a weak squad in a UCL match, even though your advantage was slim from the first leg, considering there was no longer home advantage, and also seeing that your opponent had been playing well against teams like Bayern, Galatasaray and Manchester United. Which coach will treat UCL knockout like Carabao cup if he hadn't done his ground work? This coach carries his fraudulent attitude everywhere. This is why we love Mou and we can all see that Mou is 100 times more tactical than Pep.
sense is definitely far from u....
Destrothegoat
0
Your m*m yansh needs banning since it smells sting
You good for nothing 🙉 u ought to be in the zoo where your fellows animals are
malablata
0
@autty ban this brainless clown
Your m*m yansh needs banning since it smells sting
Destrothegoat
2
You already did your ground work with the ref and VAR, so you could put in a weak squad in a UCL match, even though your advantage was slim from the first leg, considering there was no longer home advantage, and also seeing that your opponent had been playing well against teams like Bayern, Galatasaray and Manchester United. Which coach will treat UCL knockout like Carabao cup if he hadn't done his ground work? This coach carries his fraudulent attitude everywhere. This is why we love Mou and we can all see that Mou is 100 times more tactical than Pep.
@autty ban this brainless clown
somcdnpruy
0
This how great managers manage the squad of 18- 25 players all of them being happy. Ferguson could play 8 defenders,1 striker and 1. winger/midfielder and win a game. Not like Erik Ten Hag will use a squad that has won the previous game to the next game. when they are loosing he doesn't consider to sub a player who is not doing well in the field but he will do to someone who he had planned to sub before start of game.
tundesegun
0
You already did your ground work with the ref and VAR, so you could put in a weak squad in a UCL match, even though your advantage was slim from the first leg, considering there was no longer home advantage, and also seeing that your opponent had been playing well against teams like Bayern, Galatasaray and Manchester United. Which coach will treat UCL knockout like Carabao cup if he hadn't done his ground work? This coach carries his fraudulent attitude everywhere. This is why we love Mou and we can all see that Mou is 100 times more tactical than Pep.
you definitely spewed gibberish confidently.. bottling company fan....
Kesadlor
2
money create squad depth, but nobody dare to charge city, no more ffp
Nazbdetuy
2
You already did your ground work with the ref and VAR, so you could put in a weak squad in a UCL match, even though your advantage was slim from the first leg, considering there was no longer home advantage, and also seeing that your opponent had been playing well against teams like Bayern, Galatasaray and Manchester United. Which coach will treat UCL knockout like Carabao cup if he hadn't done his ground work? This coach carries his fraudulent attitude everywhere. This is why we love Mou and we can all see that Mou is 100 times more tactical than Pep.
😂😂 simple football approach.. you got 1-3 agg and you’re home. Playing a good fixture on the weekend. When you trust your team B to do the work why would you use your Team A??
Wasakosuz
3
You already did your ground work with the ref and VAR, so you could put in a weak squad in a UCL match, even though your advantage was slim from the first leg, considering there was no longer home advantage, and also seeing that your opponent had been playing well against teams like Bayern, Galatasaray and Manchester United. Which coach will treat UCL knockout like Carabao cup if he hadn't done his ground work? This coach carries his fraudulent attitude everywhere. This is why we love Mou and we can all see that Mou is 100 times more tactical than Pep.
Another brainless fool shows up
Anuolu190
3
Ancelotti (old man) can’t do this, rotate players , he prefer to use old players
malablata
4
You already did your ground work with the ref and VAR, so you could put in a weak squad in a UCL match, even though your advantage was slim from the first leg, considering there was no longer home advantage, and also seeing that your opponent had been playing well against teams like Bayern, Galatasaray and Manchester United. Which coach will treat UCL knockout like Carabao cup if he hadn't done his ground work? This coach carries his fraudulent attitude everywhere. This is why we love Mou and we can all see that Mou is 100 times more tactical than Pep.
Sisckmpsu
4
Oil money can't manager average teams . Horrible Pep 😂
look at the way u are killing yourself slowly because of another man Glory 😂😂
Gautus
4
Oil money can't manager average teams . Horrible Pep 😂
the way u speak it tells a lot about you poverty spirit manifesting
pazaekm
1
Oil money can't manager average teams . Horrible Pep 😂
money is money
MaxwellKyeremeh
0
Oil money can't manager average teams . Horrible Pep 😂
fozbckntyz
3
the best
ThreeEyedRaven
2
squad depth and tactics 👏👏👏