GELSENKIRCHEN • If Pep Guardiola learnt anything from a chaotic night in Germany's industrial heartland, it was that you cannot keep a good narrative down.
Leroy Sane had been left on the bench for his return to Schalke and it did not seem an unreasonable decision given the manner that Manchester City went about their business clinically, taking the lead through Sergio Aguero.
However, the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie turned on its head after the video assistant referee (VAR) twice intervened to award spot kicks, which were converted by Schalke midfielder Nabil Bentaleb.
Nicolas Otamendi was then sent off after the break and City's away record in Champions League knockout games going into this fixture, with five of their last eight matches ending in defeat, was under scrutiny again.
But Sane's rocket of a free kick with five minutes left and Raheem Sterling's route-one goal in added time spared City's blushes, giving Guardiola's men a 3-2 victory at the Veltins Arena on Wednesday.
Afterwards, the former Schalke academy product admitted to feeling "sorry" for his equaliser.
He said: "I couldn't really celebrate. Of course I was pleased for my team, but to score a goal like that against my former love...
"It was very emotional for me to be back in my home town... At the end, we scored three goals away, that's the most important thing."
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand felt Guardiola did not err in naming Sane only as a substitute as the Germany winger has "the end product and is a killer in that sense of the game".
He told BT Sport: "He comes on, makes a huge impact and that's what defines great teams as well. He just looks like poetry in motion the way he plays. He glides across the pitch."
8
Leroy Sane has scored three goals and set up five in his last seven appearances for Manchester City in all competitions.
However, Guardiola conceded that City could not continue to rely on individual brilliance to bail them out of trouble as "it is not enough at this level".
Calling on his side to stop giving opponents "options to be in the game" - Schalke took full advantage of their only two shots on target - he said: "We have some work to do. To go away and score three goals, I am delighted, but... we have to improve on that (defending)".
The Spaniard also backed the VAR despite a delay of over three minutes, after a technical error meant referee Carlos del Cerro Grande could not check Otamendi's handball for Schalke's first penalty.
He added: "The VAR needs time, they will improve, the screen was broken but, next time, they will be better.
"I support the technology because they (the match officials) need the help."
The Premier League champions are the only English club still capable of securing an unprecedented quadruple this season.
They will also be without Fernandinho, who was booked for the second spot kick, for the return leg at the Etihad on March 12.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
Angry Messi says son questions why Argentines criticise him. The 31-year-old's return to the national side last week after an eight-month absence was marred by a humiliating 3-1 loss to Venezuela
Atletico Madrid fell to their first La Liga defeat in five months as they were beaten 1-0 at Real Betis on Sunday, missing a golden chance to close the gap with leaders Barcelona and slipping six
Atletico suffer defeat at Betis in Morata debut | SBS News
Treble winners Man City enjoy parade. AFP May 20, 2019, 8:50 PM UTC. 1 / 3. Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000
Treble winners Man City enjoy parade - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/05/20/treble-winners-man-city-enjoy-parade/
Treble winners Man City enjoy parade AFP May 20, 2019 AFP 1 Comment Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre.
Treble winners Manchester City enjoy parade - sports
SINGAPORE - As he ushered in 2019 on Tuesday (Jan 1), local football starlet Ikhsan Fandi had just one New Year resolution - to earn a playing contract in Europe. On Thursday morning, just over a day after his older brother Irfan flew to join Thai League 2 club Bangkok Glass, the 19-year-old headed to Norway for a trial with Raufoss IL.
Ikhsan Fandi inks deal with Norwegian side | Goal.com
Premier League talking points: Liverpool go top as Manchester United show need for improvement. A last-minute own goal gave Liverpool a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur to keep them top of the
Premier League talking points ahead of weekend's games - YouTube
Newcastle United get extra-time win, Stoke City fall to Shrewsbury Town in FA Cup replays Newcastle United beat Blackburn Rovers 4-2 after extra time while Stoke City threw away a two-goal lead as they suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat by third-tier Shrewsbury Town.
FA Cup: Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to Shrews
Guardiola hopes Champions League pain spurs on Manchester City 19 April 2019, MVT 20:56 Manchester City's Spanish coach Josep Guardiola waits before the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Schalke 04 and Manchester City on February 20, 2019 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Pep Guardiola hopes UEFA Champions League pain 'spurs' on
Champions League final: Jurgen Klopp reveals Pep Guardiola called him to congratulate Liverpool on beating Spurs Manchester City manager was one of the first to congratulate Klopp following the 2-0 victory over Tottenham in Madrid after their season-long Premier League battle Load more
Liverpoolfc-blog (@LFC_Blog) | Twitter
Rio Ferdinand has been linked with the director of football role at Manchester United. I'll be discussing this and much more on the slowest growing Manchester United YouTube channel in the
How David De Gea went from 11st liability to the - The Sun
Stealth: The one area where no version of the Super Hornet can compete with the F-35 is stealth. Stealth more or less has to be baked into an airframe design right from the outset—no ifs or buts.
The Charlotte Hornets are quietly 5th in the East without MKG
Chelsea make Cesc Fabregas wait to complete Monaco move as they search for midfield replacement with Nicolo Barella and Leandro Paredes targeted
Strikes For Kids also provides local businesses a unique opportunity to create a team building exercise while seeing their tax deductible donation impact lives. Events are held nationally with the intent to empower and inspire the youth to achieve their goals and motivate them to become the leaders of tomorrow.
New Releases in Toys & Games - amazon.com
Hazard's Chelsea future in doubt, Real move mooted, Football
0 comments:
Post a Comment