MY ACCOUNT
Pep Guardiola recognised Manchester City’s 3-0 win against Bayern Munich was “a really, really good result” but stressed the job was not yet done.
A first-leg demolition of the German champions means City would have to capitulate woefully in Bavaria next Wednesday to miss out on a semi-final place.
This City team are on a nine-game winning streak and have hit at least three goals in seven of those victories, easing into a spectacular stride as the end of the season approaches.
Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland – whose 45th of the season put the seal on the win – left Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern in a desperate position ahead of the rematch.
Guardiola, a former Bayern head coach, made a point of complimenting the Bundesliga giants, who had their best spell of the game early in the second half but were ultimately put away ruthlessly.
He called on City to finish the job by winning in Munich.
“Of course, when you are there you realise how good they are as a team, Bayern Munich,” Guardiola told BT Sport.
“During 55, 60 minutes it was a tight, tight game and in a lot of moments they were better than us.”
He said the second goal from Bernardo Silva “helped a lot”, coming in the 70th minute, moments after Bayern brought Sadio Mane off the bench.
“We made some changes and our pressing was more effective,” Guardiola added.
“With the ball we were better too, and I’m happy for the result, but I lived three years in Munich. I know the Bayern Munich mentality, I know the quality they have.
“It’s a really, really good result, but we have still the second leg to play. The players know it. It’s not necessary to tell them here in front of you, tomorrow, or before the game, how difficult they are. They know it. [Bayern] are a really good team, but we’re going to take the mentality to play, to play, to play, and to try to win the game.”
The breakthrough goal from Rodri in the 27th minute was a majestic strike from the Spanish midfielder, worth the wait as he opened his Champions League goals account in his 44th match in the competition.
A curling left-footed strike from 25 yards, it arced gorgeously into the top-left corner.
“What a goal, yeah,” said Guardiola.
But the defensive work from his team was equally pleasing. With Kyle Walker again only a substitute, the combination of John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake kept Bayern goalless, Ederson making a string of saves in the second half from lively former City winger Leroy Sane.
“Of course how they defended, the back four today, Manu, John, Ru and Nathan, they were amazing,” Guardiola said. “They had the quality to defend against these threats.”
