Champions League: No choice but to win for Man City and Pep Guardiola
On the move to international waters in search of their first three points in the second phase of the group stages in the Champions League. How will Manchester City fair in their trial in Germany?
Thankfully, Pep could join in on the pre-match press conference. City put both, him and Mikel Arteta in the eyes after losing at their empty, Etihad stadium. This brings along better news that the Spaniard can now be involved on the touchline, after serving a band in European matches.
How detrimental this was to the players on the pitch was visible two weeks back when they had no answers for a team who normally plays light years ahead than most others. The Blues of Manchester know what needs to be done here in Hoffenheim as the travelling party.
Dropping points last run out, makes this too important to forget today and worry about the weekend, when they meet title challengers, Liverpool. Talking Liverpool, this was Hoffenheim’s impressive manager’s first English opponents. City’s noisy rivals were the reason Die Kraichgauer did not make last season’s edition of the Champions League.
This will be their second crack at English opposition, but it will certainly be more of the same for Hoffenheim. Like Liverpool, City possess a relentless attack, if not, a better attack. There’s 20 Premier League goals that proves this notion. Happy days for all as Kevin de Bruyne makes full training, recovering a lot quicker than anticipated at first. NO… He will not make the game
How we line-up tonight in the #UCL! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 2, 2018
City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Silva, Sane, Sterling, Aguero
Subs | Muric, Danilo, Stones, Bernardo, Mahrez, Jesus, Zinchenko#tsgvcity #mancity pic.twitter.com/uMAC3CbpgE
Pep’s impressed with Julian Nagelsmann
The two have never met according to the City boss, but chat on a regular. Mind you, not via WhatsApp though, only via SMS. Get it right…
The young 31-year-old has revolutionised the football at the German club, restoring their good old days many came accustomed to at Hoffenheim. It will not be a walk in the park for his side, even though they park at home inside the, Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
STARTELF! 💥
— TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) October 2, 2018
Das ist unsere #TSG im ersten #UCL-Heimspiel gegen @ManCity!#TSGMCI pic.twitter.com/02w66jQ0Bp
dark. Next. Recap on all EPL teams last UCL encounters
Hoffenheim come off the back of a loss to RB Leipzig and afore that, a win over Hannover 96. They haven’t exactly been as good as they were last season, and sit in 12th place. We all know what Pep’s men can do to a team sitting in 12th place?