“We’re a staff that believes we are able to do it.”
If you have a look at Manchester Metropolis’s type in Europe and domestically, supervisor Pep Guardiola’s phrases ought to be a shock to no-one.
The Champions League holders swept apart Copenhagen 6-2 on mixture to achieve the quarter-finals for the seventh successive season and turn out to be the primary English membership to win 10 consecutive matches within the competitors.
They did it regardless of leaving seven gamers out from the aspect that beat Manchester United on Sunday, with half a watch on this weekend’s showdown with Liverpool at Anfield – as Metropolis bid to turn out to be the primary aspect to win 4 English top-flight titles in a row.
And, as Metropolis stay with the possibility of a historic double Treble, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand described them as a “juggernaut that must be stopped”.
The convenience with which Metropolis booked their last-eight spot alongside Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Actual Madrid suggests no-one will relish a two-legged encounter with the holders when the draw is made on 15 March.
And Guardiola feels it underlines a change of mindset at Metropolis since he arrived on the membership in 2016.
“We arrived right here from Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the place the demand is to all the time be there,” he mentioned. “I felt the membership – not the gamers – did not really feel it.
“Managers and hierarchies do not get time, however they gave us time to lose in opposition to Monaco [2017], in opposition to Liverpool [2018], in opposition to Tottenham [2019].
“It’s simple for golf equipment which have huge historical past – begin with the most effective ones: Actual Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Manchester United, they’ve been used to it.
“Coming right here, it was not about one particular person from Catalonia saying ‘now we’re going to win the Champions League’. They gave me time.
“Now we’re a course of the place we are able to lose, positively, however we are able to compete all over the place as a result of we come from a remaining, a semi-final, a remaining and now the quarter-finals once more. Which means consistency.”
Guardiola insisted his much-changed line-up got here from his need to get extra vitality into his staff after their exertions in opposition to Manchester United. However not one of the outfield gamers that began that match accomplished the complete 90 minutes on this one.
Twice he was requested straight about Liverpool – who’re a degree forward of Manchester Metropolis – and on each events he informed his inquisitor to “ask me on Friday”, which means his pre-match media convention.
“It’s not private,” he mentioned. “I need to see you at my press convention on Friday. If I reply all of the questions now, you’ll not come.”
Extra historical past for Manchester Metropolis – the stats
- Manchester Metropolis have gained 28 of their previous 30 residence video games within the Champions League. They’re solely the second aspect to go 30+ consecutive residence matches with out defeat within the competitors, after Barcelona (38 from September 2013 to November 2020).
- Manchester Metropolis are the primary aspect in main European competitors historical past to attain 3+ objectives in 9 consecutive residence matches, a run which began with a 5-0 win over FC Copenhagen again in October 2022.
- Manchester Metropolis are heading for Anfield on Sunday unbeaten in 20 video games in all competitions.
- Metropolis have solely misplaced one two-legged Champions League knockout tie in practically 5 years.
- They turn out to be simply the third aspect to win 10 consecutive Champions League video games, becoming a member of Actual Madrid (2015) and Bayern Munich (2013, 2020).
- Erling Haaland has now scored as many profession Champions League objectives as Sergio Aguero (41). He has accomplished so in 42 fewer video games.
- Haaland has scored 10 objectives in 4 appearances within the residence legs of last-16 Champions League ties, netting six in two for Manchester Metropolis. Since his debut within the competitors in September 2019, he’s the outright general high scorer with 41 objectives, one forward of Robert Lewandowski (40).
Can anybody cease the juggernaut?
It’s all eyes on Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal compete in one of many tightest Premier League title races in years.
Simply two factors separate the three, with Ferdinand anticipating Guardiola’s males to be stuffed with confidence.
He informed TNT Sport: “Man Metropolis know what they’re doing, they’ve been right here earlier than. The supervisor is a relentless drive. The main focus is there and this can be a juggernaut that must be stopped.”
Former Newcastle and Manchester Metropolis goalkeeper Shay Given added on BBC Radio 5 Dwell: “Anfield can be bouncing on Sunday, it is a actually powerful place to play.
“I feel if Metropolis go there and get three factors, which they will do, then they may go on to turn out to be the primary staff to win 4 Premier Leagues on the bounce.”
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