Guardiola Praises Manchester City's Mentality Ahead of Sparta Prague Clash
Pep Guardiola has expressed admiration for his Manchester City players' resilience and determination following their dramatic late victory against Wolves, as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League clash with Sparta Prague on Wednesday. City, unbeaten so far this season, secured a crucial 95th-minute winner through John Stones at Molineux on Sunday, maintaining their pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Heading into the midweek European fixture, City are in a solid position with four points from their first two group-stage matches in the revamped Champions League. They played to a goalless draw against Inter Milan and earned a commanding 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava. As reigning European champions, Manchester City are looking to extend their dominance in the elite club competition, which they have been a part of for 14 consecutive seasons.
Guardiola, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, highlighted the importance of the recent win over Wolves, not just for the points but for the way it showcased the team’s mentality. He praised the passion and hunger that his players displayed, particularly in celebrating a hard-fought win against a struggling Wolves side. "How we celebrate when a team now is in the position in the bottom (Wolves), how we celebrate in October, not in May or April like it's happened, I feel the team still has the passion," Guardiola remarked. This spirit, he said, shows that his squad remains motivated and focused, even after years of sustained success.
City have won four consecutive Premier League titles and have consistently been among Europe’s elite for over a decade, but Guardiola noted how remarkable it is for a team to maintain such consistency over six or seven years. He credited his players for their relentless pursuit of excellence, stating, "You can be consistent for a month, for a season, but six, seven years and still now we are there. All the teams go down, still we are in that position."
One of the challenges City faces is the absence of key midfielder Rodri, who has been sidelined for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. However, Guardiola expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to cope without him, highlighting the depth and adaptability of his team. He stressed the importance of making the most of their home games in the group stage, especially given the tough away fixtures they have lined up against Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain.
This season’s new Champions League format adds another layer of complexity, with only the top eight teams out of 36 automatically qualifying for the knockout stages after the initial eight-match group schedule. Guardiola emphasized the need for City to secure victories in their home matches to ensure a top-eight finish and avoid potential complications. "It is not easy," he said, "The games we have at home we have to close it, otherwise it'll be difficult to finish in the first eight and that's the target we want to achieve."
As City gear up to face Sparta Prague, their focus will be on continuing their momentum and ensuring they remain on track to secure a strong position in this year’s Champions League campaign.
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