Champions LeagueManchester City manager Pep Guardiola is looking forward to the coming weeks. His team competes for three prizes in the last period of the year: the English title, the FA Cup and the Champions League. ,,April and May, those are the months that matter. Then you want to fight for titles,” said the Spaniard a day before the first game with Atlético Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
City’s schedule for the next week and a half includes two games against Atlético and two against Liverpool; first in the Premier League (Sunday in Manchester, with the lead at stake) and then in the FA Cup semi-finals (April 16 at Wembley). ,,If you don’t play these games, it means you’re out. It is therefore a pleasure to play such top duels,” said Guardiola, who, according to himself, comes up with a new tactic for every game.
“Because every opponent is different. Liverpool is not Atletico because every player is different. You have to think about that over and over again. That’s why I keep thinking of those stupid tactics, all with the aim of beating the opponent. Today I am inspired for the tactics of tomorrow. Maybe we’ll play with twelve men,” Guardiola said with a laugh, referring to Bayern Munich’s mistake in the league match at SC Freiburg.
According to Guardiola, Atlético Madrid wrongly has the image of a defensively oriented team. ,,They play more attacking than people want to see. Trainer Diego Simeone does not let his team take any risks in the build-up, but Atlético is very good in the opponent’s half. You can also see that in the class of the players they have there. It is a misconception to say that Atlético play defensively.”
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