MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 23:16:51| >> :60:452:452:

Pep Guardiola has more to think about than Lionel Messi and Paris St Germain

Pep Guardiola has more to think about than Lionel Messi and Paris St Germain
© Reuters
City open their Champions League campaign against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed any thoughts about his impending reunion with Lionel Messi.

Guardiola faces his former Barcelona star Messi, now at Paris St Germain, in the Champions League at the end of the month.

The pair won three LaLiga titles and two Champions League crowns in four years together at the Nou Camp.

City host RB Leipzig in their opening Champions League Group A game on Wednesday and, after Saturday's 1-0 win at Leicester, Guardiola insisted it is dangerous to focus on facing Messi before they overcome Leipzig.

"Absolutely, the most difficult game we have will be the first against Leipzig, this is the most important game," he said.

"I don't think one second about PSG. The teams we are going to face in the group are so, so difficult.

"Leipzig have grown up in Germany, Bayern have been unstoppable but to be there all the time second, third, second, third, fighting with Dortmund with the quality they have, it will be a good test. It's important to arrive in this test the way we played on Saturday."

Kevin De Bruyne was an unused substitute at the King Power Stadium as Bernardo Silva's goal earned the visitors victory.

The Belgian international has been restricted to just 11 minutes this season because of an ankle problem and Guardiola remained cautious over whether the midfielder can start against Leipzig.

Premier League Package 2021 – 2022
Kevin De Bruyne is closing in on a return (Carl Recine/PA)

"We will see, he made a really good training session this week and step-by-step," he said.

"We have a deeper squad, Phil (Foden) was there (on the bench), Kevin was there, Raheem (Sterling) and John (Stones) were there. The last two games against Norwich and Arsenal the guys who played who were amazing. They deserved to still play.

"Everyone makes his contribution. The guys who play good have more options to play. The guys who don't play good have more problems. The guys have to wait a moment – but the moment is coming."

ID:463511:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4373:
Written by
P A

Click here for more stories about Pep Guardiola

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts on September 11, 2021
Read Next:
5 Things we learned from the weekend's Premier League action
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!