Pep Guardiola says Lyon a step up from Premier League opponents after Manchester City scrape draw

Pep Guardiola says Lyon a step up from Premier League opponents after Manchester City scrape draw
Pep Guardiola felt Lyon’s performance proved how superior the Champions League is to the Premier League.Citytwice needed to come from behindto secure a 2-2 draw as they were outplayed for large spells by the French side in Tuesday’s Group F clash in France.3

Aymeric Laporte was on the scoresheet for Man City in Lyon

The result ensured City qualified for the last 16, but Guardiola said the game should serve as another reminder of how tough competing in Europe can be.The City manager said: “Today the Champions League showed me again that it’s a different competition, the players are better, the demands are so high.“They have weapons on set-pieces, defensively are so strong, they have quality up front. When people say it’s easy for the Champions League, you cannot imagine how confused people are.“After losing the first game, here was not a surprise.“But in February we’ll be there, another year for City. We can focus on the Premier League and try to compete against the best teams in Europe when February comes.”3

Maxwel Cornet was outstanding for Lyon, scoring both their goals

Guardiola, who twice won the Champions League as Barcelona coach, feels the demands are completely different from the Premier League, which City won comfortably last season.He said: “You don’t have time. You can lose games in the Premier League and still have 38 games. Here there is huge quality for 180 minutes.“We showed personality. We got the point that we needed for February. Qualifying for the last 16 is the happiest time for November and December.”City twice fell behind to goals from the outstanding Maxwel Cornet, who also hit the woodwork, but responded with headed equalisers from Aymeric Laporte and Sergio Aguero.There had been speculation Guardiola might start 18-year-old Phil Foden after being hit by a spate of injuries, but Raheem Sterling instead played a central midfield role.3

Pep Guardiola was relieved to leave Lyon with a draw

Guardiola said: “I decided for another player, but everybody here is ready. I came here to show we wanted to win and I put on all the strikers that we have.”City will now hope to secure top spot in the group in their final fixture against Hoffenheim next month.Lyon will also need a result in their last game against Shakhtar Donetsk to progress. Manager Bruno Genesio said: “I was very pleased to see my team perform how they did. City are one of the best teams in Europe.“I regret our concentration levels dropped after we scored our second goal but we have to take the positives from this as we played a great game. Maxwel had a massive game, as did the entire team.“We would have liked to have qualified but we are feeling very positive.”

---

Manchester United will not be forced Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, 19, and Chelsea's Callum The Cottagers are also likely to lose left winger Ryan Sessegnon, 18, with Tottenham keen on

---

Home / Manchester United transfer news: Gareth Bale would be 'huge asset' at Old Trafford, insists former Red Devils. Gareth Bale would be 'huge asset' at
Manchester United transfer news: Gareth Bale would be 'huge

---

FA Cup final FREE live stream: Man City vs Watford - TV channel, watch for nothing, kick-off time The 138th edition of the historic final will take place this weekend By Marc Williams
Manchester City vs Watford live on talkSPORT: Commentary

---

How Tottenham Hotspur could line-up without Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son Spurs seem set to be dealt another injury blow by their star forward's absence, while his South Korean team-mate is on
A Tottenham Hotspur line-up without Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son

---

West Ham United captain Mark Noble has as many Premier League assists as Mesut Ozil, Kevin De Bruyne and Fred combined The tenacious midfielder has been granted freedom to maraud slightly further
West Ham United captain Mark Noble has as many Premier League
hollywoodadviser.com/west-ham-united-captain-mark-noble-has-as-many-premier-league-assists-as-mesut-ozil-kevin-de-bruyne-and-fred-combined/
The former England Under-21 captain turns 32 next week, but has impressed in Manuel Pellegrini's first season in charge. In fact, he now has as many assists in the league as Kevin De Bruyne, Mesut Ozil and Fred COMBINED. PREMIER
West Ham United captain Mark Noble has as many Premier League

---

Vivianne Miedema among three Arsenal players in PFA Women's

---

Mauro Icardi stripped of Inter Milan captaincy amid contract dispute and Chelsea transfer links The 25-year-old has also been left out of Inter's squad for the first leg of their Europa League
Mauro Icardi stripped of Inter Milan captaincy amid contract

---

David Hopkin has resigned as manager of League One strugglers Bradford City after less than six months in charge. The 48-year-old Scot replaced Michael Collins in September, but only won seven of
David Hopkin resigns as Bradford City manager after six

---

Sadio Mane will equal his best ever goal tally in a Premier League campaign if he finds the net against Watford at Anfield on Wednesday night. The Liverpool forward scored 13 goals in his debut season with the Reds in 2016-17 and is one shy of that total with 11 games still to play this term. Mane
Sadio Mane has best minutes per goal ratio in Champions

---

Moussa Sissoko and Jan Vertonghen trained with the team on Monday and could be ready to return to action, which will be a boost for the home team. Victor Wanyama should start as the holding
Ajax vs. Tottenham Hotspur - Wednesday, May 8, 2019

---

Tottenham new stadium latest: £1billion ground to host first

---

Sergio Aguero has furthered his status as a Premier League great by equalling a record held by Henry. Aguero got his 20th of the 2018-19 season with the winner in City's 1-0 victory away to Burnley.
Sergio Aguero joins Thierry Henry in exclusive - goal.com

---

Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez is once again a target for Real Betis, according to reports. This season the 25-year-old has managed just one goal in 12 Premier League outings for the Magpies
Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez wanted by Real Betis

---

A football match between two local Brazilian clubs descended into complete chaos after a massive brawl broke out. Atlético Goianiense hosted Vila Nova at the Estádio Antônio Accioly for their
Derby hit with FA charge for failing to control their players

---

Simon Jordan: talkSPORT pundit's passionate rant on how to take the Championship to the next level Former Crystal Palace owner says it's time 'the jewel in the crown of the Football League
News list for talksport pundit's passionate rant on how to

---