Champions League hits and misses: Pep Guardiola says Bernardo Silva is one of the best he has trained while Joshua Kimmich deserved better | Football News

Guardiola ‘destroyed’ but triumphant

Pep Guardiola didn’t must reveal afterwards that he had been left ’emotionally destroyed’ following Manchester Metropolis’s 3-0 first-leg win over Bayern Munich. Simply watching his contortions on the touchline on the Etihad Stadium was sufficient to make that clear.

Each time the ball made its approach into the neighborhood of the Metropolis penalty field, Guardiola sank to his knees in supplication. This competitors has given him his greatest moments in soccer but it surely has additionally taken away – taking so much out of him. That subsequent triumph is lengthy overdue.

Guardiola doesn’t must say how a lot he needs it. He has reached the acceptance stage, rationalising his battle to raise the trophy with discuss of how everybody from Jack Nicklaus to Michael Jordan has needed to lose many extra occasions than they’ve gained.

Guardiola doesn’t must say how a lot he needs it, however it’s apparent. And whereas he doesn’t wish to jinx it, stressing that Bayern stay a robust opponent and that this tie will not be over, it’s clear that he has the gamers and he has the staff, in kind and in simpatico.

Accusations of overthinking staff picks and ways might by no means go away, definitely not earlier than success in Istanbul in June. However Guardiola didn’t must deviate removed from the plan to beat Bayern. He might have been destroyed. His staff are destroying the opposition.
Adam Bate

‘Silva one of best I have trained’

Bernardo Silva’s efficiency drew particular reward from Pep Guardiola. The Portuguese scored the second objective, tormented the Bayern defence and in addition did an essential defensive job in controlling the attacking forays of Bayern left-back Alphonso Davies.

“He’s a participant who you say goes to play in that place and also you don’t have to say anything,” stated Guardiola.

“I’ve been fortunate to teach some superb gamers for Barca and Bayern. He is among the greatest gamers I ever educated in my life, ever. He’s one thing particular as a soccer participant.

“Bernardo is a soccer participant, he can play in all places as a result of he understands the sport completely and each motion with and with out the ball.

“When Davies begins to go you can not cease, Bernardo has the power to learn the positions, give us an additional cross. He’s so essential in all these video games, he can play holding midfielder. He’s so, so essential and currently he’s scoring objectives, which he lacked a little bit bit. Now he’s being decisive.”
Adam Bate

Alvarez impact strikes again for City

Twice Manchester Metropolis have had tough knockout video games at house, twice Julian Alvarez got here on to make the distinction.

Metropolis have been locked in a tense battle towards Bayern Munich on Wednesday night time however the tie swung on, not Dayot Upamecano’s error, however Kevin de Bruyne’s withdrawal for Metropolis’s World Cup winner.

Alvarez entered the sphere on 68 minutes in a interval the place Bayern have been knocking on the door for an equaliser. Eight minutes later, Metropolis have been 3-0 up.

The Argentine got here on as Metropolis moved to a 4-2-4-style set-up – and that four-person assault helped power Upamecano right into a deadly error as they pressed a objective kick to create their second objective.

5 minutes later, Alvarez pressured Yann Sommer into an enormous save because the stress grew. Two assaults after that, the Metropolis substitute whipped in a superb ball from a brief nook to John Stones, who teed up Erling Haaland’s close-range end with a header.

Alvarez had the very same influence when he got here off the bench in Metropolis’s FA Cup win over Arsenal again in January, arriving with the scores locked at 0-0 and creating stress with that four-pronged assault to grind the Gunners down.

It simply goes to indicate that, even with the grandeur of 45-goal striker Erling Haaland, Alvarez can nonetheless make an influence.
Sam Blitz

Kimmich deserved better

Joshua Kimmich was cool on the ball, ferocious within the problem and understood when to be courageous and when to play secure. The whole lot a few of his Bayern Munich team-mates weren’t on Wednesday night time.

The German midfielder set the tone for what first regarded like a strong begin to the Champions League tie for the Bundesliga champions.

His passing excessive of the Metropolis defence was a pleasure to behold whereas he got here to the rescue to disclaim two clear probabilities for Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.

Sure, Bayern went in 1-0 down on the break however, as many within the Bayern camp have claimed, Rodri’s objective was hardly one they’ll cease.

“It was not crucial that we have now a consequence like this. It is robust for us, actually tough,” he instructed reporters after the sport. The best way Bayern capitulated with 20 minutes to go would have pissed off Kimmich greater than most.

And with out him and Yann Sommer, Bayern can be humiliated. Kimmich can be a unbelievable addition to any Premier League staff. Absolutely somebody will strive their luck on a mercurial expertise?
Sam Blitz