Kompany out for ‘up to six weeks’, Guardiola assesses options

Manchester City could only manage a draw against Borussia Monchengladbach in their penultimate match in the Champions League group stage.

Monchengladbach took the lead midway through the first half when Raffael lashed a rising drive past Claudio Bravo, but David Silva levelled just before the break as he profited from Kevin de Bruyne’s low cross.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits he is keen to crack the secrets of highly successful Chelsea manager Antonio Conte ahead of their meeting in the Premier League next week.

Toure scored twice at Selhurst Park as he made his first league appearance of the season after being sidelined because of a row between his agent, Dimitri Seluk, and Guardiola. “We are in the Europa League now – that was our aim, and we have done it”.

“We have qualified with one game left and it’s a big compliment for the team, for the whole stage”, Guardiola said, according to Sky Sports. I was a trainer here in Germany and I know how hard Gladbach are.

“This is the football we want to play”, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan told BT Sport. But after reaching the semifinals a year ago – their deepest penetration in club history – Guardiola thinks his team can cause problems of their own.

“I think that the most important thing for me is to keep working – those who work hardest always have more opportunities to play”.

And Manchester City’s officials are reportedly set to meet after Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to discuss emergency transfer plans.

After helping City win 2-1 at Burnley on Saturday, Toure admitted a recall was on his mind and claimed he decided not to find a new club in the summer because of his belief he could prove his worth. Their last group game against Celtic will be nothing more than a formality as the fate of the group has already been fully decided.

Although Guardiola confirmed that Kompany will be out for longer than first expected following treatment in Barcelona in the last few days, the Catalan says he has no plans to use Toure in defence.

“His teammates love him”. I’m not a guy who complains that much, believe me.

The price of 2/7 suggests an easy afternoon for the visitors, but after caving in against West Brom on Monday night, Sean Dyche will be working on tightening up his defence.

City visits Burnley in the league on Saturday. Guardiola will be expecting an intensive performance from his players, they’ll be looking to starve Burnley of the ball and will need their midfield to be energetic in order to do so.

Pep Guardiola feels relief avoiding Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the UCL, but notes the strength of any opponent. There was not enough energy, enough fight actually.