Pep Guardiola has sent his players a stern warning after City were drawn against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League round of 16.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City cannot afford to underestimate Borussia Monchengladbach when both sides meet in the Champions League.
Marco Rose’s side finished second in a group containing Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk. That alone has made them one of the dark horses for the knockout rounds after Christmas.
On paper, City might look the favorites but Guardiola isn’t dismissing a team he is well familiar with from his coaching days at Bayern Munich.
“I learned when I was in Germany how big and important and historic they are as a team,” the City boss said after the draw as quoted by the Daily Mirror.
“It is a club that I respect a lot, the quality and beauty of their football. To go through in a group with Shakhtar, Inter and Real with two exceptional games against Shakhtar.”
Before City face Monchengladbach in February, lots of games lie in-between from the Premier League and other cup competitions.
Guardiola is hopeful his squad will be fit and firing by the time the last-16 tie comes around.
“The only concern I have is to arrive in the best condition possible in February against them,” he said. “I saw the highlights, I didn’t see much of them properly and we start to work on this from now on.”
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