Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called on his players to produce the perfect game against Liverpool on Tuesday, but insists they are capable of scoring five if required to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
Premier League-champions in-waiting City are currently reeling from back-to-back defeats, the first of which – a harrowing 3-0 defeat at Anfield in the first leg – has left their European hopes dangling by a thread.
City have scored three or more goals at the Etihad Stadium on 12 occasions this season, including Septembers 5-0 hammering of 10-man Liverpool, which has left Guardiola eyeing a seemingly unlikely comeback.
On only two previous occasions has a side recovered from at least a three-goal first-leg deficit to progress in the Champions League; Barcelonas stunning turnaround against Paris Saint-Germain last term and Deportivo La Coruna in 2004.
“To go through you have to make the perfect game; create chances, be clinical and concede few chances,” said Guardiola, whose side will have to net at least five times should Liverpool score.
“All the conditions have to be perfect. The aim is tough but we have 90 minutes and in football everything can happen.
“What we are going to do is try. We have to score the first one, then make the second one. The perfect scenario is to go through. At the end we cannot forget that it is a simple game and focus on every single minute.
“If we concede, dont give up – its more than 90 minutes. Many times we have created a lot of chances in a short period. We have to be clinical and if we are not then move on to the next.”
Guardiola is a two-time Champions League winner as a manager, having triumphed in the competition with Barcelona, although the Spaniard failed to hit similar heights while in charge of Bayern Munich.
Should the European crown elude City this campaign, the 47-year-old believes it is only a matter of time before the north west outfit conquer the continent.
“It will happen sooner or later – what this club has done in the last 10 years in terms of creating facilities and making it bigger means it will happen,” added Guardiola.
“To reach the semi-final would be for the second time in our beautiful history. I dont have to talk about how beautiful it is. They show every single game what they want to do.
“I know you judge by results, but performance? My team is extraordinary, exceptional. It is a joy to be manager of the team, I am so delighted.”
Striker Sergio Aguero trained yesterday after making his return following a month out with a knee injury in Saturdays Manchester derby, during which he required treatment following a hefty challenge from Ashley Young.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called on his players to produce the perfect game against Liverpool on Tuesday, but insists they are capable of scoring five if required to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
Premier League-champions in-waiting City are currently reeling from back-to-back defeats, the first of which – a harrowing 3-0 defeat at Anfield in the first leg – has left their European hopes dangling by a thread.
City have scored three or more goals at the Etihad Stadium on 12 occasions this season, including Septembers 5-0 hammering of 10-man Liverpool, which has left Guardiola eyeing a seemingly unlikely comeback.
On only two previous occasions has a side recovered from at least a three-goal first-leg deficit to progress in the Champions League; Barcelonas stunning turnaround against Paris Saint-Germain last term and Deportivo La Coruna in 2004.
“To go through you have to make the perfect game; create chances, be clinical and concede few chances,” said Guardiola, whose side will have to net at least five times should Liverpool score.
“All the conditions have to be perfect. The aim is tough but we have 90 minutes and in football everything can happen.
“What we are going to do is try. We have to score the first one, then make the second one. The perfect scenario is to go through. At the end we cannot forget that it is a simple game and focus on every single minute.
“If we concede, dont give up – its more than 90 minutes. Many times we have created a lot of chances in a short period. We have to be clinical and if we are not then move on to the next.”
Guardiola is a two-time Champions League winner as a manager, having triumphed in the competition with Barcelona, although the Spaniard failed to hit similar heights while in charge of Bayern Munich.
Should the European crown elude City this campaign, the 47-year-old believes it is only a matter of time before the north west outfit conquer the continent.
“It will happen sooner or later – what this club has done in the last 10 years in terms of creating facilities and making it bigger means it will happen,” added Guardiola.
“To reach the semi-final would be for the second time in our beautiful history. I dont have to talk about how beautiful it is. They show every single game what they want to do.
“I know you judge by results, but performance? My team is extraordinary, exceptional. It is a joy to be manager of the team, I am so delighted.”
Striker Sergio Aguero trained yesterday after making his return following a month out with a knee injury in Saturdays Manchester derby, during which he required treatment following a hefty challenge from Ashley Young.
