Irked Pep Guardiola dismisses notion of Man City demolition job after tough night at RB Leipzig

Pep Guardiola completely dismissed suggestions that Manchester City should have swept to an easy win in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at RB Leipzig following a 1-1 draw in Germany.

Just as in Saturday’s Premier League draw at Nottingham Forest, City could have been out of sight after Riyad Mahrez had given them a 27th-minute lead in this last-16 first-leg tie.

But Pep Guardiola’s side failed to make possession and pressure count once more, and Josko Gvardiol’s equaliser 20 minutes from time provided another reminder that chances must be taken.

And speaking after the game a clearly irked Guardiola ridiculed the suggestion that City should have just rolled Leipzig over.

He told BT Sport: “What do you expect? We play a friendly game here? How many games do you know from Leipzig? How many games?

“Come on. So people expect we are here going to win 0-5? That’s not a reality. It’s a competition that in the group stage, many important teams are out and it’s difficult.

“We knew it. It was our fourth game in 10 days, away games, the travels and people expect… We are a good team and we do many, many good things and we will continue to do this.

“People expect is to come here [and win] 0-4? I’m sorry, we are not able to do this.”

You can’t drop your concentration against this City side!

Grealish pounces on a Leipzig mistake and sends Mahrez through to put City 1-0 up!! 🚀#UCL pic.twitter.com/VZOjmUCtNX

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 22, 2023

“I saw the team good, especially in the middle. I thought about Phil [Foden]. In the end, I decide to continue with what I have, especially the back four. Bernardo [Silva] was giving a lot of control in the middle.

“I didn’t see it so I cannot talk, but I know what happens in these situations.”

The second leg of the tie takes place at The Etihad on Tuesday March 14.

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