Izuchukwu OkosiDe Bruyne expected back in January 2024
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reiterated the importance of finishing top of their UEFA Champions League group as they get set to take on RB Leipzig at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Premier League and European champions have won four games out of four in Group G of the competition and have already clinched their spots in the knockout stages although the first spot is still up for grabs.
“We have to win or draw,” said Guardiola at his pre match press conference on Monday evening.
“The first step is done for both sides so congratulations to RB Leipzig to qualify for the next round in February.
“It is important to finish first. We believe that when we play the last 16, [having] the second leg at home is not decisive but an advantage and we have to take it.”
City beat Leipzig 3-1 on matchday two. That result and City’s three-point cushion over Leipzig makes the permutations as straightforward as Guardiola laid them out.
They and Leipzig have already clinched spots in the knockout stage, but first place in the pool remains up for grabs.
“We have to win or draw,” said Guardiola.
“The first step is done for both sides so congratulations to RB Leipzig to qualify for the next round in February.
“It is important to finish first. We believe that when we play the last 16, [having] the second leg at home is not decisive but an advantage and we have to take it.”
City beat Leipzig 3-1 on matchday two. That result and City’s three-point cushion over Leipzig makes the permutations as straightforward as Guardiola laid them out.
Avoiding defeat will do the job and eliminate the potential danger of City finishing second and having to face the winner of another group in the last-16 stage.
City have every reason to be optimistic. Leipzig are fifth in the German Bundesliga, 11 points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, while City have not lost at home since November 2022.
Guardiola delivered a not-too-positive injury news about his players.
Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic, Sergio Gomez and Matheus Nunes are doubts.
Kevin de Bruyne is a long-term absentee, and the player confirmed himself in an interview with Sky Sports News that a January return to full fitness is on the cards but there is a more positive news in the case of John Stones.
Stones suffered an injury in City’s win over Young Boys on November 7 but is “really close to coming back” Guardiola disclosed on Monday.
Grealish missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool through illness.
“I’m not optimistic about some people coming back but we will see,” Guardiola said.
“I think it will be the same people who played against Liverpool. John Stones is getting better. He’s not for playing but maybe a few minutes,” the Spaniard stressed.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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