Guardiola jokes he may play 9 strikes in Man Metropolis’s second leg match vs Leipzig

Manchester Metropolis’s head coach Pep Guardiola applauds the group after the Champions League spherical of 16 first leg match in opposition to RB Leipzig. AP

Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola joked he may throw warning to the wind to complete off Leipzig within the Champions League by fielding “9 strikers”. Metropolis had been held to a 1-1 attract Germany on Wednesday within the first leg of their final 16 tie with Riyad Mahrez’s opener cancelled out by a header from Josko Gvardiol.

“I didn’t need to come right here and lose 4-3. It must be extra open in Manchester,” mentioned Guardiola who coached Bayern Munich to Bundesliga titles in every of his three years in Germany and mentioned Metropolis “couldn’t compete” with the pace of German groups.

“We don’t have the crew to compete with them with a whole lot of transitions, they’re higher than us and they’re quicker than us, besides Kyle (Walker) and Erling (Haaland).

“The tempo they’ve, we don’t have it.”

Guardiola added: “Possibly within the second leg I will probably be loopy and resolve to play with 9 strikers. However I’ve coached on this nation and I analysed Leipzig and I wanted such a management.”

The Metropolis supervisor gathered his crew collectively on the pitch for an impromptu motivational session after the ultimate whistle in an try and elevate their spirits.

“That they had their heads down, I informed them ‘Why are your heads down, put your heads up,” the Spanish supervisor informed the post-match press convention.

“It was a very good recreation the sport you performed. If individuals don’t prefer it, it doesn’t matter, you performed the sport the best way it ought to be performed.”

The Metropolis supervisor mentioned the Champions League “was once fairly straightforward”, however is now “such a demanding competitors”.

“All the groups in the entire leagues are actually robust.”

Leipzig supervisor Marco Rose revealed how his half-time discuss, which “began quietly and ended up somewhat bit louder”, pushed his gamers to cease “taking part in Metropolis’s recreation.”

“I informed them ‘what are you doing, coming right into a recreation like this and standing deep – that wasn’t the plan.”

Rose mentioned he was assured forward of the second leg in Manchester on March 14, however admitted “to go to Metropolis, we’d fairly have a 3-0 benefit to really feel higher.”

“We will take loads out of the sport in order that we can’t play one other first half like we did at the moment.”

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