Pep Guardiola urges Man City to seize once in a lifetime opportunity for Champions League glory

Pep Guardiola urged his Manchester City stars to seize a once in a lifetime opportunity as they resume a quest to make history in Europe.

City faced Lyon in a one-legged Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon and their manager was optimistic about his team’s chances.

Guardiola demands clear heads as they try to reach the last four for the first time during his tenure.

‘This is an important moment for our career, for our lives as professionals. It’s a once in a lifetime and I think it’s exceptional to be together, ‘said Guardiola.

‘Now we have to show ourselves. I want to see my team be who they are, do everything with their soul, their mind, and then football will determine whether we deserve it or not.

‘They can punish us. The pressure is always there. Anything can happen in one game. There are no favorites in this competition. ‘

Guardiola suggested that the team’s mindset had improved after their shocking 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final last month.

The Catalan openly criticized their attitude in the immediate aftermath of being eliminated from that match.

“I’m incredibly proud of the way they’ve behaved for the past two or three weeks,” he added. ‘I would say since the lockdown, but especially in recent weeks. They are incredibly focused.

‘We are used to playing one game (in our own country) and it is a final. There are no second chances. In or out, you go back to Manchester or stay here in Lisbon. ‘

UEFA assigned City the plush training base of the Portuguese national team, Cidade do Futebol, as their home base for the mini-tournament. Guardiola believes the bio-safe bubble that the team and staff in the backroom have stayed in all week has strengthened ties between the group.

“We worked and prepared well,” said Guardiola. ‘We ate well, drank good wine at night. We have worked a lot, try to discover the secrets of Lyon.

“We didn’t do anything special, just spend more time together – both the backroom staff and the players. I think it’s good, very good. Hopefully we can stay here longer. People know that I prefer to be at home, but this is a special (situation). ‘

City is aware that defensive vulnerability has played a role in past Champions League defeats over the past three years and Aymeric Laporte called on his teammates to focus.

‘I think we should avoid the mistakes, be focused. Lyon has very good, talented players, ”said Laporte. ‘We have a great team and hopefully we can win this game, but tomorrow we will have to fight.

‘We are prepared and will fight to the end. There are a lot of tough teams and we have to be ready for the title. ‘