Pep Guardiola has commended the relentless drive and hunger of his Manchester City squad following their dramatic late victory against Wolves, as the team gears up for an important Champions League match against Sparta Prague on Wednesday. City’s 95th-minute win, courtesy of John Stones’ decisive goal at Molineux, kept them hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The reigning European champions head into their midweek fixture with four points from their first two group stage matches in the newly formatted Champions League. After a goalless draw against Inter Milan and a resounding 4-0 triumph over Slovan Bratislava, City are looking to build momentum as they continue their European campaign. Their performance in the tournament reflects their consistent dominance on the continent, having won four consecutive Premier League titles and competing in Europe’s top club competition for the 14th consecutive season.
Speaking ahead of the game at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola emphasized the passion and desire that remain deeply embedded in his team, even after years of sustained success. Reflecting on the hard-fought win at Wolves, he expressed admiration for his players’ emotional reaction, both on the pitch and in the locker room.
“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 have the passion,” he said.
“How we celebrate in the locker room, I still feel ‘OK, they still want it, still we are there’ and that means a lot to me, a lot.
“They know, the team, how difficult it is to be consistent for six, seven years. 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.”
Looking ahead to the clash with Sparta Prague, Guardiola stressed the importance of capitalizing on their home advantage, especially with daunting away trips to Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain still to come. With the revamped Champions League structure in place, only the top eight out of 36 teams will automatically progress to the knockout stages, making every point crucial.
“It’s crucial we secure wins at home,” Guardiola said. “If we don’t, it’s going to be very difficult to finish in the top eight, which is our goal. This new format makes every game more challenging, and we must make sure we’re in a strong position when the group stage concludes.”
With a tough fixture list ahead and high expectations, Guardiola’s Manchester City remains focused on continuing their remarkable run in both the Premier League and the Champions League. The team’s enduring determination suggests they are as motivated as ever to add more silverware to their already impressive haul.
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