MANCHESTER CITY ARE still not ready to win the Champions League, according to manager Pep Guardiola.
City responded to their shock Premier League loss to Wolves prior to the international break with a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Two-time reigning Premier League champions City are six points adrift of unbeaten leaders Liverpool ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Atalanta.
Having conquered English football, City covet European glory but Guardiola believes his team are not close to reigning supreme in the Champions League.
“The people say about the Champions League, that target. We still are not ready,” said Guardiola, whose City have lost in the quarter-finals in each of the past two seasons.
“We create a lot, don’t concede, but can improve. We’ve scored a lot over the last two seasons and I don’t have doubts about that, but we have to keep going, work on that.”
Gabriel Jesus scored in the victory at Selhurst Park, where the Brazil forward netted his 50th City goal since arriving from Palmeiras in 2017.
“He [Jesus] will have a long career and with his mentality always he will have success. He is hungry, he will become an important striker around the world and we are lucky to have him,” Guardiola said.
“Gabriel was always good from the beginning. Unfortunately he had the two tough injuries. Last season it was tough for him, after the World Cup it was not easy, but he is strong.
He is a number nine for Brazil. The club brought an incredible, young player for an incredible price. One of the best signings.
“To compete with Sergio [Aguero] is maybe the most difficult thing. Sergio is a legend, an outrageous player — amazing, but Gabriel is so calm. “He is a competitor, he accepts the decision and every training session he fights like an animal, but he is so young and can improve.”
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Fair play to him
Great news for the lad. Hopefully he keeps progressing and is a regular in green one day. For all Irelands woes on the pitch over the years we’ve always produced quality keepers.
@Ger: gaa helps
If he somehow doesn’t make it in the sport we’ll know it’s because the Anglos couldn’t handle his first name.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: is a daily struggle here in Scotland!
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: how do you pronounce it?
@Kyle Mac Creddin: Queveen
@Kyle Mac Creddin: back up to the back up
@Richard O’Brien: correct, well done.
@Michael: Thanks Mate
@Richard O’Brien: Ah got you, Kweeveen. Thanks
Fantastic . Assume this means he going to pick up a winners medal. As the pool are going to win. From a non Liverpool fan
Another Rob Green from Wednesday night.
@Alan Brazil: what’s that? . A substitute goalkeeper?
@Alan Brazil: not really. Green wasn’t even named as one of their 3 keepers
Needs a decent loan in the summer. Probably league 1 level. Seems a real talent with a great attitude. Best of luck to him
Is there a game this weekend?
@Richard O’Brien: Yes, well done again. Brilliant.