The second leg of the quarter-finals continues with the all-English affair as Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium.
After their first leg 1-0 victory, Tottenham are now marginal favourites. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s injury list is only growing. Harry Kane is out, while there is also an injury cloud surrounding Dele Ali after he broke his hand. The latest player to be sidelined is Harry Winks, who has not travelled with the squad due to a groin injury.
Pochettino was pleased with the first leg but knows that there is plenty of work to do.
“For us to beat them in the first leg was an amazing result, but we know very well that the tie is still open. What we have is the belief. We are going to fight,” he said.
First choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris added that the team is determined.
“The fans, the players, the coaching staff… we are all excited and ready to fight tomorrow and to try to make history for our club.”
As for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has list of players with a clean bill of health. He admits though that the UEFA Champions League is not the sole priority. His City side are in contention for four major trophies.
“The Champions League is tough. We fail all the time,” he said.
“I didn’t come here to win the Champions League honestly. I came here to play the way we played the last 20 months. The Premier League is the most important title, to be there every three days competing.”
“Football is that game. [We play Spurs in the Champions League and the league, and then Man. United so] if we don’t win these games this week, we lose both titles.”
The stakes are high given the reigning Premier League champions have a playing squad valued at €1.45 billion.
City also spent the most of any club in Europe to acquire their players.
The Manchester City manager added that the fans need to produce an intimidating atmosphere to help them get over the line.
The winner of Manchester City and Tottenham will progress through to the final four and will face Ajax who are fresh off a win against Serie A leaders Juventus.
Neither City or Spurs have won a UEFA Champions League title.
Team News
Manchester City
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Fernandinho/Gündogan, David Silva; Bernardo Silva, Agüero, Sterling
Out: Bravo (Achilles)
Doubtful: Fernandinho (unknown), Zinchenko (hamstring)
Misses next match if booked: Agüero, Otamendi
Tottenham
Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Wanyama; Eriksen, Lucas, Son; Llorente
Out: Aurier (hamstring), Dier (hip), Kane (ankle), Winks (groin)
Doubtful: Alli (hand), Lamela (hamstring)
Misses next match if booked: Alderweireld, Lamela, Son
width=300
height=250
align=center
type=”adsense”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-3484850642769722″
data-ad-slot=”2036872107″
