Pep Guardiola praises Manchester City's performance in 0-0 draw with Internazionale in UEFA Champions League opener
Published 18/09/2024 at 22:16 GMT
Manchester City's UEFA Champions League campaign may have got underway with a 0-0 draw, but Pep Guardiola was still full of praise for his players. The manager stated "I love this team" as they maintained their unbeaten run, while adding that he loved "absolutely everything" about their performance. It is the first time The Citizens have failed to win a game this season.
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City portrait before the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and FC Internazionale Milano at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
Pep Guardiola had nothing but praise for his Manchester City team, despite their failure to win a game for the first time this season.
The Citizens were frustratingly held to a 0-0 draw by a resilient Inter Milan side at the Etihad Stadium.
It was their first game in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, with the determined Italians often sitting with 10 men behind the ball.
Even so, City created 22 shooting opportunities, but could only get five of them on target.
Guardiola, though, would not criticise his players, telling TNT Sports: "We played so good. I love my team. We are a fantastic team.
"We had a team that defended really, really well. They are the masters of defending and transitioning.
"We conceded one, one and a half chances. You cannot expect to create umpteen chances when a team defends with 11 players so, so deep.
"I'm really, really pleased with the performance we have done. [I liked] everything, absolutely everything [about the performance]."
The match saw Phil Foden make his first appearance of the season, as he came on as a half-time substitute for Savinho.
Rodri also made his return after an extended lay-off following Spain's Euro 2024 success, while Ilkay Gundogan made his Champions League return for City after a stint with Barcelona.
And it was the latter who could have won the game for the hosts late on, only to waste a couple of huge chances.
Guardiola admitted his side were wasteful at times, but also explained why he was reluctant to let them take the handbrake fully off against a team who are famously good at turning defence into attack.
"When you are alone and you lose easy balls, it's a counter-attack," he continued. "So it's impossible to stop it. You have to be more precise because sometimes there are balls that are so difficult.
"But we are alone and we lose the ball, that happens especially on the left side with Kevin [De Bruyne], you cannot control it.
"We had not a lot [of chances]. It's the beginning of the season. These players will be better. Phil [Foden], it's his first game for two months. Gundogan arrives. The players, with more time, they will be better.
"Rodri played really good. Always, Rodri plays good."
Meanwhile, the Spaniard could not shed any light on De Bruyne's fitness.
The midfielder was withdrawn at half-time and was replaced by Gundogan.
But when pressed on what the issue was, Guardiola responded: "I didn't speak with the doctors yet."
He now faces a race against time to be fit for Sunday's Premier League clash with Arsenal.
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