Man City take on PSG in their second game of the Champions League this week and they go into this matchday at the back of a fine domestic victory.
Pep Guardiola’s side beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and this was a clear statement of intent from the Cityzens that they mean business, just like any other season.
But taking on and stopping PSG is going to be a totally distinct ballgame altogether, especially since they now have Lionel Messi.
The trio of Neymar, Mbappe and Messi have the capability of tearing down any defensive line so Pep Guardiola has made it clear that his side will have to grind it out on Tuesday night.
“What happened last season was last season. They were a fantastic team and it was a tight game and now they have Messi,” he said, speaking in his pre-match press conference.
“With this quality I don’t know what we can do, honestly!
“They are fantastic team. What could I say with the players they have: Marquinhos, I’m a big fan of him. Hakimi, Paredes, Verratti, especially, and the players upfront – they can play wide, narrow, middle. They combine really well and have quality.
“Talent cannot be stopped. We don’t put pressure on one player to stop the talent they have – we do it as a team. We know we will suffer – this level demands this. They are so good and you have to be able to suffer for 90 minutes.
“To control is so difficult. We will try to defend well when we don’t have the ball and let them run when we have it.
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“They are exceptional players – everyone knows it. All of them are so good. They can combine and connect. We are looking forward to the game and we will play.”
Despite PSG boasting such a star-studded side, they are yet to defeat Man City, despite playing against them six times in Europe. And if this was not enough then the Ligue 1 side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous four encounters against Pep Guardiola’s side.
City showed tremendous skill and planning on Saturday as they broke down Chelsea and we expect a similar performance from them on Tuesday as well.
On Saturday though, Chelsea could manage only five shots(none of them on target) throughout the match but this game against PSG will be totally different meaning the likes of Dias, Stones and Rodri will play a key role in determining the outcome of this match.
If Rodri can manage to screen the backline and deliver the sort of performance which he showcased against Chelsea then there’s every chance that Man City can bag all three points in Paris.
