Guardiola says ‘one day we will break everything’ after Man City edge past Olympiacos

Dave Tindall
Pep Guardiola Manchester City TEAMtalk

Pep Guardiola said a flood of goals would come soon after Manchester City relied on a single strike to beat Olympiacos in the Champions League.

Phil Foden’s 36th-minute effort proved the difference as City won 1-0 in Greece and secured qualification with two games to spare.

However, it was the sixth time in the last 10 games in which they’d managed just a single goal. And that run includes a blank in the 2-0 defeat at Spurs last weekend.

The latest count is just two in their last three games – way down on the numbers usually associated with the free-scoring Citizens.

Guardiola told BT Sport: “Unfortunately we couldn’t score more goals. I don’t know how many shots we had.

“We played really, really well in all departments. We are in the next round and can now focus on the Premier League and other competitions.

“We would love to score more but it will come and one day we will break everything.”

Foden has six goals for club and country following Wednesday’s strike and a brace in England’s recent 4-0 win over Iceland.

He said: “This result means we qualify for the next round, which is important for this club.

“We did well to dig in at the end and get the win. We haven’t had the best results in the league but we are doing the right things in the Champions League.”

Guardiola pays tribute to Maradona

Lionel Messi Diego Maradona Argentina

The City boss also added his own tribute to Diego Maradona. The Argentine legend passed away on Wednesday, aged 60.

He said: “There was a banner in Argentina some time ago when it said ‘it doesn’t matter what you have done with your life, it matters what you have done with our lives’.

“I think Maradona would have done in our generation. There are a few incredible players in history, and he is one of them. The World Cup in 86 in Mexico and the other ones – he was someone who made the sport better. On behalf of Manchester City, to all his family a big hug.

“When I arrived at the Barcelona academy, he left to go to Napoli. He was there before. The impact was not what it’s like in Argentina, in Boca Juniors or especially Napoli. But what he has done in world football was incredible. He is one of the best for many people.

“The influence on football, how he lived his profession, it is difficult to find a player who loved this game more than him. His commitment on the pitch and with his mates was outstanding and it is sad news for world football.”