Pep wary of PSG as Man City ‘not good defensively’

Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will have their work cut out to keep Paris St Germain’s big guns quiet in their Champions League semi-final.

The Premier League leaders travel to the French capital for the first leg of their last-four tie on Wednesday.

PSG, runners-up last season, boast the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in attack and Guardiola anticipates a difficult evening.


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The City boss said: “They are incredible top players. We are going to try to stop them.

“We are not good in our defensive departments. We are good with the ball. Our strong point defensively is because 11 players run a lot.

“Tomorrow, unfortunately, we will have to run more and more because PSG are so strong.”

Guardiola, who twice won the Champions League as Barcelona manager, has stressed the occasion is something his players need to savour.

It is only the second time City have reached the last four and the first since Guardiola took charge in 2016.

He said: “Enjoy the travel, the coffee in the airport, the hotel, watching the other semi-final, the walk, the training.

“We’re privileged to be one of the best four teams in Europe this season. It has to be enjoyed.”

Guardiola has a fully-fit squad for the encounter at the Parc des Princes.

He said: “Everyone is fit and ready – and happy, all the players. We are grateful to have this opportunity. For us it is something new and we are incredibly grateful to live it. It is so nice to go to Paris for all of us.”

Forward Riyad Mahrez says there is a strong determination to succeed within the squad following last season’s disappointment.

City were one of the tournament favourites last year but crashed out to Lyon in the quarter-finals.

Mahrez said: “It was the biggest disappointment of my career (but) it helped us a lot this season. This season we were so determined to go through.

“The Champions League is the thing we are missing, I don’t think anyone in our team has won it before.

“It is the best thing you can play for and win.

“If we can try and get to the final, then we will see. The most important thing is tomorrow and hopefully we can go through.”

 

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