Pep Guardiola under no illusions about Bayern Munich threat

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insisted that his side will not underestimate Bayern Munich despite their three-goal first leg lead.

Guardiola’s team secured an impressive 3-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium last week and will look to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four seasons. The City coach said that he is relishing the chance to play the German champions again this evening.

“This is an opportunity to prove ourselves versus one of the best in Europe and we’ll try to impose our game,” he said.

“We’ll try to do as much as possible... The mindset is to try and win the game.”

Guardiola added that keeping defensive solidity would be a key part of his team’s mindset at the Allianz Arena.

“We are going to defend, for sure,” the City boss said. “Part of the game is you have to defend, and we are going to defend tomorrow.”

“I’ve been here at Bayern Munich and I know the mentality of this club. It’s everywhere... it’s in the skin. [A comeback] is possible.”

Man City still in the hunt for a treble

Only once in the history of English football has a side won all three major honours in a single season. City’s local rivals Manchester United managed that feat in 1998/99 and now, with just eight weeks of the season remaining, Guardiola’s side are still in the hunt for three competitions.

“It’s great to be in these important games,” Guardiola said. “Tomorrow, then FA Cup semi-finals, Arsenal next week. I have no doubt how much players want this success.”

“We have been six or seven years on top of all competitions, and still we are there!”

His City teams have dominated domestically in recent years but are yet to make the leap to continental success. With a series of crucial fixtures in three competitions on the horizon Guardiola insisted that he would try to enjoy the run-in.

“It’s nice to be here and try to make the semi-final once again. This is our model. What do you do to achieve it? Be yourself as much as possible.”