Pep reveals fatigued pair missed out, as Foden fires Man City through Manchester City sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Olympiacos in Greece on Wednesday night. Pep Guardiola’s men maintained their 100% Group C record with a victory courtesy of Phil Foden’s first-half strike. Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were left out of the squad. Aymeric Laporte, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez also dropped to the bench as Pep Guardiola made five changes for the Group C clash in Greece. Benjamin Mendy returned from injury while John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling all came into the side following Saturday’s loss at Tottenham. Sergio Aguero was on the bench as City sought a victory that would secure their place in the knockout stages. Guardiola confirmed neither De Bruyne nor Walker were injured and were just being rested. Guardiola told BT Sport: “They are fatigued – so many games, mental fatigue. They are tired. “We couldn’t do it before because we had so many problems but, now we have so many players back, it is good time for them to take a week off.” City eventually broke through on 36 minutes with Foden finishing off a well-worked move. Ilkay Gundogan slipped Raheem Sterling into the area and the England forward picked out Foden in front of goal with a clever backheel. Foden, who scored twice in England’s victory over Iceland last week, made no mistake with a powerful low strike. Sterling twice tested Sa from long range before the interval but the keeper parried his first effort and then palmed a free-kick over. City went in at half-time leading 1-0 and on course for a place in the last 16. City maintained their dominance after the break. Foden pounced on a defensive lapse but Ruben Semedo blocked his shot and Gundogan put the rebound wide. Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva also had efforts kept out by Sa before Foden headed wide. City remained 1-0 in front with 15 minutes remaining. The post Pep reveals fatigued pair missed out, as Foden fires Man City through appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Manchester City sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Olympiacos in Greece on Wednesday night.

Pep Guardiola’s men maintained their 100% Group C record with a victory courtesy of Phil Foden’s first-half strike.

Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were left out of the squad.

Aymeric Laporte, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez also dropped to the bench as Pep Guardiola made five changes for the Group C clash in Greece.

Benjamin Mendy returned from injury while John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling all came into the side following Saturday’s loss at Tottenham.

Sergio Aguero was on the bench as City sought a victory that would secure their place in the knockout stages.

Guardiola confirmed neither De Bruyne nor Walker were injured and were just being rested.

Guardiola told BT Sport: “They are fatigued – so many games, mental fatigue. They are tired.

“We couldn’t do it before because we had so many problems but, now we have so many players back, it is good time for them to take a week off.”

City eventually broke through on 36 minutes with Foden finishing off a well-worked move.

 

 

Ilkay Gundogan slipped Raheem Sterling into the area and the England forward picked out Foden in front of goal with a clever backheel.

Foden, who scored twice in England’s victory over Iceland last week, made no mistake with a powerful low strike.

Sterling twice tested Sa from long range before the interval but the keeper parried his first effort and then palmed a free-kick over. City went in at half-time leading 1-0 and on course for a place in the last 16.

City maintained their dominance after the break. Foden pounced on a defensive lapse but Ruben Semedo blocked his shot and Gundogan put the rebound wide.

Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva also had efforts kept out by Sa before Foden headed wide. City remained 1-0 in front with 15 minutes remaining.

The post Pep reveals fatigued pair missed out, as Foden fires Man City through appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Matthew Briggs