’Mbappe will play, but we will win’

Two Champions League finals (won both), six semi-finals and two quarter-finals, that Pep Guardiola’s resume in the most prestigious European competition. He won the competition twice, but both with Barcelona and last time 10 years ago, in 2011. This is the Spaniard’s only second semi-final with Manchester City and he already lost to PSG’s coach Mauricio Poccetinho in 2018/19, who was managing Tottenham then.

Can PSG and Real Madrid prevent all-English Champions League final?

It is no surprise than when Guardiola claims that the semi finals are tougher than finals. He has not yet lost the final game, but he has lost in the semis. Ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with PSG, the Spaniard woes to control emotions, but predict a good result.

„When I arrive in these stages I’m more calm than before, try to enjoy it, players training well, everyone wants to play and we go out to do our game. The second leg of semi-final is always the toughest game, more than the final, we control our emotions, doing what we have to do. This is what I’m looking for and try to convince them this is the best way to win. I think we are going to do an incredible game and win the final, this is my feeling. We don't want to miss this opportunity. I have a feeling we will do well“ said Guardiola.

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Kylian Mbappe had a quiet game in the first leg and is battling with injury ahead of his match. If you ask PSG coach, he can’t guarantee that the Frenchman will play, but Pep is sure of that.

„Absolutely, I'm looking forward to it. He's going to play. I'm looking forward to him playing. For the football, for the game itself, hopefully he can play. They played really well, in the first half was exceptional. Mbappe dangerous, in the second half we were better. They judged Mbappe and Neymar because they lost, if they won they play good. I think they played good. I don’t expect for one second we’ll play like that second half in Paris. How quick we play, that’s what will be important. It belongs to the players, something they will remember forever, they have to make a step forward and show you can win the game, they are going to do it“ said Guardiola.

Defender John Stones is happy he will participate in the Champions League semi-final after watching it as a kid years ago.

„Really confident and excited for the challenge ahead. We've got to be confident in our own ability. I never thought I'd play in the CL. I loved watching at home, staying up too late as a kid. Really special occasions, I love the whole atmosphere, the whole show. Really good memories, not so much games, listening to the famous song as the players come out. Watching teams lift it, now being able to play in it is something special. To be in the situation now you don't want to let it go. We're trying to grab every opportunity to succeed“ said Stones.

With so many participations in the Champions League, but with so many losses, the pressure is surely more on Guardiola, but it doesn’t mean Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t feel the heat. The Argentinian was brought to secure Ligue 1 title (Lille is currently better) and to win the Champions League, not to lose another semi-final.

„We need to assess Kylian, today he's going to start individual training session and see if he'll be with the team. The system we use will be similar from the beginning we give to the players, we trust and have confidence in the way we played the last few months. It's difficult to arrive at this stage, PSG not many times play semi-finals like today. We will play the game the best way and try to be better, that's the only way to have the possibility to go to the final“ said Pochettino.

Tuesday is "D-Day" for Mbappe and his presence against City

The Argentinian’s objective is clear: we have to play like in the first 45 minutes in Paris, and score two goals without conceding one. Easer said than done.

„City is a team playing more than six years under the same philosophy, a strong team built to play this way. It's 90 minutes, you need to score twice if we want to go through, that's the objective and we're going to try. The motivation in this kind of games, Champions League semi-finals, 'Houston we have a problem' if we need to motivate players or City need to motivate theirs to play a semi-final tomorrow. The motivation is there, players love to play these games, nobody wants to be out“ summed up Poch.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Semi-final - Second leg

Tuesday

22.00: Paris Saint Germain - Manchester City - First leg 1-2 (1-0)

Wednesday

22.00: Real Madrid - Chelsea - First leg 1-1 (1-1)

Location: Manchester, Etihad Stadium

Referee: Bjorn Kuipers, Netherlands

Possible line-up:

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Rúben Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Gündoğan; Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Foden; De Bruyne

PSG: Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo; Verratti, Paredes; Di María, Neymar, Draxler; Icardi