Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stressed the importance of wrapping up top spot in their Champions League group.
On Tuesday, the defending champions host RB Leipzig at Etihad Stadium for their fifth Group G match; thus far, they have secured four victories in four.
Although both Leipzig and them have secured positions in the knockout stage, the race for first place in the pool continues.
“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 defeated Leipzig on matchday two, 3-1. This result, coupled with City’s three-point lead over Leipzig, renders the permutations exactly as Guardiola outlined them.
By preventing a loss, City can effectively eliminate the possibility that it could finish in second place and be forced to face the victor of another group in the round of 16.
Every reason exists for the city to be optimistic. Leipzig are eleven points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen in fifth place in the German Bundesliga, whereas City have not suffered a home loss since November 2022.
Guardiola delivered a message of pessimism regarding a variety of fitness issues that his squad was experiencing.
Matheus Nunes, Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic, and Sergio Gomez are all uncertainties.
While Kevin de Bruyne remains sidelined on an extended basis, John Stones’ situation has taken an unexpected turn for the better.
“Really close to coming back” from the injury he sustained in City’s 7 November victory over Young Boys, Stones, according to Guardiola, is “still recovering.”
Grealish was ruled out of the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday due to 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.”
Photo by EPA/PETER POWELL
