Guardiola Surprised by City’s Underdog Status
In a recent press conference, Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, expressed some surprise that his team is not being treated as a frontrunner for this season’s UEFA Champions League title. As they prepare to kick off their European campaign against Napoli at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola noted that betting odds place City behind several other clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Real Madrid in the race for the trophy.
“Apparently we are not [among the favourites].”
He emphasized the importance of enjoying the journey of the competition, pointing out that despite their previous successes, winning the tournament is no easy feat and urged focus on their upcoming match rather than favorites’ status.
“We just focus on tomorrow, the game we have to play.”
City’s Recent Performance and Key Players
City heads into this contest after a convincing 3-0 victory against Manchester United, and they face a formidable Napoli side that boasts talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay, and Rasmus Højlund. Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to continue in goal for City after making his debut in the Manchester derby; he is expecting an emotional match against Napoli, where he began his youth career before his move to AC Milan.
“I’m very tied to Napoli, so many friends and my family are there,”
Donnarumma shared his ties to Napoli and expressed excitement about the match despite his family issues. He reflected on his transition from Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester City, saying,
“I don’t really like to talk about the past… Now I’m here, I’m happy and proud.”
Guardiola on De Bruyne’s Impact
Guardiola also commented on De Bruyne’s successful integration into the Napoli squad after spending ten years with City, suggesting that top-level players adapt quickly. When asked if he was looking forward to seeing De Bruyne once the match concludes, Guardiola humorously responded,
“After the game, yes!”
De Bruyne has already made an impact in Serie A, scoring twice in his first three matches with Napoli. Guardiola praised De Bruyne’s talents, stating,
“His incredible talent, vision, passing, goals in the final third. He is unique.”
