Guardiola: City Not Bothered By Spurs

By Nigel Philips

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has downplayed the effect of his side playing Tottenham Hotspurs at the latter’s newly built stadium.

Manchester City face off with the London-based team in the first-leg quarter-final tie at the new White Hart Lane, a stadium which was built over two years and opened just last week.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs have spent the last two seasons playing their home games at Wembley Stadium, and it is believed that the side would enjoy a great deal of impetus playing in their own stadium.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his side’s clash against Spurs, a clash that marks the first international game at the venue, Guardiola was asked questions regarding the north London club’s freshly opened stadium.

But, the Spanish trainer has insisted that his side is not bothered being the first club to play a European fixture at the venue as the team are concerned with issues on the pitch than from the stands.

“It affects us if we think about the fans, but if we think about what we do on the pitch it doesn’t affect us.

“The stadium is what it is, the supporters support the team more than ever in the Champions League.

“We know what we are going to face and it is up to us how we handle it. We have to know how to handle the situation if we don’t, that’s because we are not prepared to go through.”

The Citizens will look fresh in tonight’s fixture as they have remained in London since eliminating Brighton & Hove Albion from the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday,

“I don’t know how fresh we are; I never know before. In the FA Cup we could have been better,” he added.

“Now all eight teams are contenders. It’s the first leg against a tough opponent and we will give it a good go.

“This team has shown they are incredibly focused playing every three days, that’s why we are here.”

“We stayed in London to avoid airports, waking up earlier, one hour more, on the bus or the plane. We’ve been out, had lunch together, and it gives us more time to speak and to prepare.”