A Napoli reduced to ten men for over seventy minutes did not make life easy for Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola can smile after the winning debut in Champions League 2025/2026. In the post-match press conference, the Catalan coach praised both his players' performance and the opponent's difficulty: "It's always difficult against Napoli. We needed clarity, and the lads maintained it. Doku was devastating in tight spaces, creating his own chances and finding the goal.".
It is impossible not to talk about Erling Haaland, now a record-breaking machine with 50 goals in Champions: “We are lucky to have him with us.
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Guardiola also had some important words for Rodri and Foden: "Rodri asked to be replaced, but he's fine. Phil has given us a huge hand; we've brought him closer to Haaland, like the year we won the Premier League. He's a pure talent, but he needs to be protected; we shouldn't put too much pressure on him. When he feels appreciated and supported, he makes the difference on the pitch."
Comments (1)
The game analysis is very interesting, but I think Napoli had some difficulties with the referee; some decisions weren't clear. Haaland is certainly a great player, but there are others who deserve attention. Guardiola knows how to manage his players well.