[Sport] Guardiola: I bear the responsibility for the exit against Lyon ... We are waiting for Van Dyck's return ... and facing Porto is a challenge for us

[HiTLeR]

Guardiola: I bear the responsibility for the exit against Lyon ... We are waiting for Van Dyck's return ... and facing Porto is a challenge for us

 

 

 

Pep Guardiola, the coach of the Manchester City team, said that he feels responsible for the exit of the heavenly team from the Champions League competitions in the last version in favor of Lyon in the quarter-finals (3-1), and also confirmed that the presence of a player the size of Virgil Van Dyck in the English Premier League championship increases From the strength of the competition.

 

Manchester City is preparing to face Portuguese tomorrow, Wednesday, in the first round of the group stage of the 20/21 UEFA Champions League.

 

During the press conference for the match, Guardiola said: "The victory against Arsenal was important to us. After losing to Leicester City, the team was in good shape during the match."

He added: "We were not able to prepare well for the new season, it was an honor for us to continue in the Champions League last season, but our preparations for the new season were delayed due to Corona injuries that hit some members of the team. All clubs play this season in difficult circumstances."

 

And the Catalan coach added: "We need to win tomorrow (against Porto), we are still a little far from where we want to be."

 

Regarding the team's injuries, he said: "Alex Zinchenko has returned. Many players have also become good, such as Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo. Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne and Emeric LaPorte are expected to return in the coming weeks."

 

When asked about the impact of Liverpool after Virgil van Dyck's injury, he said: "I cannot talk about it, Juergen Klopp (Liverpool coach) can do that. We wish him a speedy recovery and recover well, I do not like the competitors losing important players for a long time."

 

He continued: "I do not know Van Dyck very well, but I think he is a strong person and he will return well. We are waiting for his return because Premier League with good players becomes the best."

 

And about losing to Lyon (3-1) and leaving the Champions Quarter-finals in the last version, the City coach said: "It was difficult moments. I was responsible for that. I saw how the club and the players fought, but we have to accept the fact that we were not good enough."

 

He continued: "We did not play badly, we had the opportunities, but we made mistakes that we paid for. Now we have to move forward and improve and take advantage of the new opportunity .. We will start from scratch again."

 

And about facing Porto, he replied: "Every time I play Portuguese teams, I know how difficult it is. It is a good challenge for us."