Mind-Blowing: Man City’s Jaw-Dropping Journey to UCL Round of 16 Will Leave You Speechless!
In Manchester, England, Manchester City left Young Boys in the dust by halftime this Tuesday, effectively sealing their UEFA Champions League group stage journey after only four matches.
Pep Guardiola’s primary objective remains securing the top spot in Group G. Still, with a perfect record of 12 points out of 12, City is poised to extend their streak for the 11th consecutive year, ensuring their participation in the knockout rounds come the new year.
Having secured a spot in the semifinals for the past three years, progressing from their group is the initial stepping stone towards more significant accomplishments in their quest for trophies. The path to championship runs always begins somewhere. While watching Guardiola’s squad, it may seem that top-tier teams should effortlessly breeze through the group stages. However, in a surprising turn of events, just before kick-off at the Etihad Stadium, Barcelona suffered a defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in Group H.
Among the teams competing in this season’s group stage, City is one of the exclusive three with an impeccable 100% record. Furthermore, they are the first team to confirm their entry into the Round of 16. It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine them as the final contender vying for victory at Wembley Stadium come June.
Guardiola expressed his delight, stating, “Of course, we are incredibly happy to have qualified with two games left. People may think, ‘The group stage, it’s a breeze,’ but you have to deliver when expectations are high. Sometimes, we must defy the preconceived notions people hold about us. The crucial aspect is that we meet the qualification criteria as expected. Our work is not finished; we must clinch the top spot in the group and secure the advantage of playing the second leg in the last 16 at home. We have a task ahead of us, but the initial step toward qualification is complete. I’m genuinely impressed.”
Following their 3-1 victory over Young Boys in Switzerland two weeks ago, the return match was all but decided when Phil Foden maneuvered past Ulisses Garcia to score, propelling City to a 2-0 lead just before halftime.
Erling Haaland had already converted a penalty 20 minutes prior, and Guardiola felt at ease enough to substitute John Stones with Nathan Aké. City is set to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and as a precaution before the upcoming game, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Julián Álvarez were all given the night off.
Remarkably, Haaland wasn’t even expected to be fit after sustaining an ankle issue during the 6-1 triumph over Bournemouth on Saturday. However, he felt well enough to fire in a third goal shortly after the start of the second half. This moment signaled the end of any hopes the Swiss champions had for mounting a comeback. To emphasize this further, Sandro Lauper received a second yellow card and was sent off.
With his team trailing 3-0 and a player down, manager Raphael Wicky was content to see Haaland exit the pitch early. However, Mauricio Pochettino might be wary of the prospect of a well-rested Norwegian striker arriving at Chelsea over the weekend. Haaland may not be receiving the same level of accolades as he did this time last year, but he has now amassed 15 goals in 17 games this season, showcasing his remarkable talent at the age of 23.
“Whether it’s within the six-yard box or the 18-yard box, his talent shines through,” remarked Guardiola. “In our training session [on Monday], we witnessed his impressive movements and the happiness he exuded. He’s feeling great, so all’s well. He fulfilled his role, and with the job nearly completed, he now gets to rest for the upcoming Sunday.”
“Today, we did experience a slight deficiency in that final delicate or refined touch within the 18-yard box,” Guardiola added. “In that aspect, our performance fell short, but in all other regards, we excelled. What has characterized this group of players for years is consistency. We set lofty standards, which is why we continue to perform well in the Premier League and have secured our passage in the Champions League.”
The cause for concern for the Premier League and the entire European football scene is that Manchester City is gaining momentum. After enduring three defeats in four matches, they’ve now clinched victory in five consecutive games. In September and October, they went through six matches without a clean sheet, but they have since achieved two in their last three games.
City’s dominance against Young Boys was so comprehensive that the visitors failed to register a single shot on goal or even muster a corner. Yet, there’s no shame in being overpowered at the Etihad Stadium, as City extended their unbeaten streak at home to 23 matches. Only Sunderland, over 130 years ago, during the period between 1890 and 1892, holds the record for a longer run among top-flight English football sides.
Manchester City, who haven’t suffered a Champions League defeat at home since 2018, continue to make the game appear effortless. Although tougher challenges lie ahead, they seem to be hitting their stride.
Leave a Reply