Guardiola demands Man City become more clinical in Champions League

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City must be sharper in front of goal if they are to end their quest for Champions League glory.

City won 2-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie against Borussia Monchengladbach in Budapest, with Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus on target either side of half-time.

Despite watching his team show almost complete domination while racking up a 19th consecutive win in all competitions, Guardiola sometimes cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines at the Puskas Arena.

Speaking to BT Sport after the match, the City boss warned his players not to repeat the mistakes of botched chances that have stained three consecutive quarter-final exits.

“In general, it was good,” he said. “We controlled the game, we concede one chance at the end.

“Unfortunately, we were not clinical enough up front – one against one, against the defender and keeper

“It’s something we have to improve in this competition.

“The situation is clear – the one against one against the keeper or against the defenders and we were not able to even dribble.

“In this competition, you have to be perfect to make sure you go through.”

12 – Manchester City have won their 12th consecutive away match in all competitions, breaking the record run for an English top-flight side, which was previously set by Man City themselves in November 2017. Crusade. pic.twitter.com/ts1FiLBQ0m

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Jesus and Raheem Sterling were among those to show hesitation when presented with opportunities in the Gladbach area, with four of City’s nine attempts over the course of the 90 minutes on target.

Three missed the mark, while a further two were blocked.

Both goals owed much to Joao Cancelo’s sublime deliveries from the left, with Bernardo Silva heading in his fellow Portugal international’s cross for the 29th-minute opener.

Silva then nodded down another fine centre for Jesus to smuggle home after the hour.

“He has to improve sometimes and take some risks in some positions but he gives us something special in our process of play,” Guardiola said of Cancelo.

“His physicality is so strong. I’m very pleased for the two passes to assist in the final third.”

City have progressed from all four of their previous Champions League two-legged knockout ties when they have won the first leg away from home.

But Guardiola baulked at the notion of his team being favourites for European glory, having watched holders and his former employers Bayern Munich demolish Lazio 4-1 on Tuesday.

“When I see Bayern Munich yesterday, I would not think so,” he added, before insisting City’s sole focus is their next Premier League game this weekend.

“But my target now is just West Ham. For three weeks, we do not know what happens [in the Champions League].

“If the people say [we are favourites], we have to accept it. A team who in our whole history have arrived once in the semi-finals. Okay, it’s no problem.”