On the eve of Manchester City's crucial upcoming Champions League first-round home game against Inter Milan, manager Pep Guardiola spoke exclusively with TNT Sports to share his thoughts on the core of his team, Xavier Harland, Ballon d'Or candidate Rodrigo Rodriguez, and the new format of the Champions League.
Harland's Excellence and the Need for Rest
Guardiola was full of praise for Harland's performances: "Harland has scored 99 goals in 103 games for Manchester City, which is an amazing achievement. His impact is not just in his stats, but in his overall influence on and off the pitch and his positive impact on the dressing room. We are delighted to see him maintain this form and look forward to him continuing to perform at such an outstanding level."
For Harland failed to participate in international competitions with the Norwegian team this summer, Guardiola expressed his understanding: "He is very eager to represent Norway in international competitions, which is his dream. But considering his physical condition and mental state, a month and a half of rest is necessary for him. This will not only help him recover physically, but also allow him to relax mentally."
Expectations for Rodney's Ballon d'Or candidacy
Talking about Rodriguez entering the Ballon d'Or shortlist, Guardiola could not hide his joy: "Rodriguez is a very good player, he is fully qualified to win the Ballon d'Or. If he finally wins, we will be very happy for him. After Crow and Messi's long domination of the Ballon d'Or, we are looking forward to seeing new faces come to the fore, and Rodri is undoubtedly one of the best."
Outlook on the new format of the Champions League
On the new format of the Champions League, Guardiola said, "Although everything is new, the core of the game is still to win. The new system brings more games and different challenges, but we must stay focused and try to get a good result at home. It's the first game of the group stage and we have to prepare well, analyze our opponents and develop the right tactics."
Guardiola also emphasized the importance of the players' mentality: "In a high-level tournament like the Champions League, the players' mentality often determines whether the game is won or lost. We have to stay relaxed and confident and start the game full of energy and ready to go. We have already won the Community Shield and last season's Premier League quadruple, but this is just the beginning. We need to keep working hard and improving for the upcoming challenges."
Finally, Guardiola reminded his team to remain humble and cautious: "In the last game, Brentford
than we have performed. This reminds us that we can't take things lightly in any game. We must analyze our shortcomings and improve on them in the upcoming matches. Only then will we be able to go far in the new format of the Champions League."
