LONDON • Pep Guardiola may have described his Manchester City side as Champions League "teenagers" in the build-up, but the 7-0 rout of Schalke in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday is a clear indication of their growing maturity.
The resounding 10-2 aggregate win - the biggest achieved in the Champions League by an English club - puts the Citizens among the favourites when the last-eight draw is made tomorrow.
And, after recording their 61st goal in all competitions this year, the Spaniard declared his side's intention to "try for the second time in our history to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League".
He said: "We are delighted to be in the quarter-finals. The last 15 minutes and the second half we were incredibly good, quick and dynamic.
"I know Schalke are in a tough period but, even in that situation, you have to do your job.
"I'm not going to say we are not going to fight (for a maiden Champions League title). As a club, we are like a teenager team because the best success... is one semi-final and two quarter-finals.
"You can't compare us to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool or Juventus. They have how many?
"But the teenagers have desire and are not scared. This competition is incredibly tough. We will see how far we can get. I've won two (Champions Leagues) but I've lost seven. All I can say is we will try and, next season, we will try again."
In their seven previous Champions League campaigns, City have reached the last four only once but, having won 18 of their past 19 matches in all competitions, the momentum could carry them to the June 1 final in Madrid.
Leroy Sane again scored against his former club as he became the first player to make three assists in a knockout game since Franck Ribery in March 2012.
A brace by Sergio Aguero and strikes by Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and substitutes Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus further contributed to the heaviest loss suffered by a German team in the competition's history.
But Guardiola felt it was far from Sane's best display, insisting the 23-year-old "wasn't aggressive enough", before warning City's future opponents that the winger's potential had yet to be fulfilled as "he is young".
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States.. Read
Football: Holders USA shrug off weight of Women's World Cup
virginiabus.info/sports/football-holders-usa-shrug-off-weight-of-womens-world-cup-expectations/
NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States. The three-time winners will be aiming not only to retain the trophy they won in 2015 but also build on their legacy as soccer's […]
Soccer: Holders U.S. shrug off weight of World Cup
Palace's Zaha banned for referee sarcastic clap. 2019-02-07 20:08 Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been given a one-match ban by the Football Association for improper conduct after
Palace's Zaha banned for referee sarcastic clap
MADRID • A first trophy in seven years for Liverpool, and a first win in seven finals for Jurgen Klopp. The European Cup headed back to Anfield for the sixth time yesterday and their manager is confident there is much more to come, warning the rest of football's big boys that "this is still only the start".
Jurgen Klopp Vows 'It's Only the Start' for His Liverpool
Welcome! Log into your account. your username. your password
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3
Football: Valencia pile more misery on Barcelona by winning Copa del Rey final. 1 week ago. Barcelona wanted a trophy to ease their Champions League heartache but instead fell to another shock defeat as Valencia pulled off a thrilling 2-1 victory on Saturday to win the Copa del Rey. Chasing a
It's the Sids 2019! The complete review of La Liga's 2018-19
Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool's Premier League rivals that the leaders are laying the foundations for long-term success.
Liverpool Laying Groundwork For Sustained Success, Says
Valencia. Football: Valencia chairman Murthy says King's Cup victory 'icing on the cake' to a fine season. straitstimes.com - DAVID LEE. SINGAPORE - Their title drought has ended after more than a decade, and in just five seasons after taking over in 2014, Peter Lim's Valencia are …
Kerber crashes to Russian teen at Roland Garros as Federer
Missed chance for Reds, Football News & Top Stories - The
winner | Malaysia News is a newsreader (RSS reader) providing a summary of headlines and latest news stories disseminated in the reliable news sources from Malaysia News. Malaysia News reads latest regional, national and local headlines in English and Melayu.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic fails to attend training for Paris Saint
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: El Clasico Could Provide Premature End to Zinedine Zidane's Title Hopes. By Tom Roddy On 12/18/17 at 6:55 AM EST. Cristiano Ronaldo, right, watches on as Ivan Rakitic
Failure at Valladolid would end Real's title hopes - Ancelotti
Sarri, whose own future at Chelsea remains in doubt after a tumultuous campaign with Juventus credited with an interest in luring him back to Serie A, admitted he had long known of Hazard's intentions. "As you know, Hazard is a wonderful player, but you have to spend two or three months to understand him as a man," said the Italian.
Hazard still keen on 'dream' Real Madrid move | Sports
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar. Real Madrid play at home to in-form Athletic Bilbao on Sunday but Atletico took another step towards finishing above their city rivals
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar
Football: FAS employee sacked over breach of financial
PARIS (AFP) - Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3. The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted a photo on his Instagram account on
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital | Sport24
But we must worry about ourselves and not Germany. I don't think we are favourites but that is up to you members of the media to decide." Van Dijk. "There were times where we did not put
We're not favourites towards Germany: Van Dijk - Latest News
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen