Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is looking forward to facing off against Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane when the Blues face Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Blues must win their final group-stage fixture at the Etihad Stadium to avoid the play-off stage of the competition for a second season running, having slipped to 11th place in the group-phase after suffering a 3-1 loss against Bodo/Glimt in Norway last week.
After successive defeats to Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, City returned to winning ways against Wolves on Saturday courtesy of goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo, with the Blues cutting Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to four points after the Gunners suffered a shock loss at home to Manchester United on Sunday evening.
The fixture calendar doesn’t get easier for an injury-riddled Manchester City side in the coming weeks however, with Guardiola and co facing trips to Tottenham and Liverpool in their upcoming league games as they look to pile further pressure on an Arsenal side who have also struggled in January.
A seasoned professional in title races, Guardiola will at the same time be reminding his players that they need not look too far ahead and just remain focussed on the next game, starting with Galatasaray on Wednesday night in the UEFA Champions League.
Previewing a renunion with former Manchester City duo Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola said: “Not bad at all! A huge contribution and my grateful is eternal for both of them. Incredibly lovely persons, incredible mates. Happy to see them back tomorrow!”
The Catalan has called upon Manchester City fans attending Wednesday’s group-stage decider to stick with his side through thick and thin. “What I expect is the people come (to the Etihad Stadium) tomorrow, support us in the bad moments we’ll have because they (Galatasaray) are a top team. I have a huge respect for how good Galatasaray are,” he added.
City saw Matheus Nunes return against Wolves and supply a peach of a cross to Omar Marmoush to open the scoring five minutes in, with the latter scoring his first Premier League goal of the season on his first start for the Blues since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
A decision on Nico Gonzalez’s availability for the game is believed to have been taken after Manchester City trained on Tuesday afternoon, with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri due a rest after playing much more than he is used to this month since returning from a hamstring injury.
Ruben Dias is aiming to prove his fitness in time for next weekend’s Premier League trip to Anfield, having sustained a hamstring injury in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on January 4, when Josko Gvardiol also suffered a tibial fracture on his right leg that will keep the 23-year-old Croatia international out till April or May.
Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku all started Saturday’s win over Wolves on the bench and are in contention to return to the lineup against Galatasaray, with Semenyo ineligible to feature for Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League until the Round of 16.
Nothing less than three points will do for the Blues at home against Galatasaray and ahead of crucial league fixtures against Tottenham and Liverpool, City need momentum on their side as they vie for a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.
