City boss adds club wants to secure progress to knockout stages on Tuesday and 'avoid pressure' of final group game against Hoffenheim
Tuesday 27 November 2018 07:52, UK
Pep Guardiola says Phil Foden is “definitely ready” to step up for Manchester City in their Champions League match against Lyon.
Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne will all miss Tuesday's penultimate group-stage fixture through injury, with a point needed for City to ensure qualification to the last 16.
Foden has only played three minutes for City in this season's Champions League but Guardiola has full confidence in the 18-year-old's ability on the European stage.
"When he appeared in the last pre-season game I was incredibly impressed and I think he is stronger," Guardiola said. "He is more conscious [that] he is able to play with us without doubt.
"He played the last game for 20 minutes and at a high level, aggressive with the ball. Without the ball he is so intense. I have the feeling every time he played, he played good: pre-season, during the season, a few minutes, ninety minutes he played good.
"He is part of the squad - I said from the beginning he is ready, definitely ready."
Lyon's victory in the group-stage opener at the Etihad remains City's only defeat of the campaign so far and they have since won their other three European games.
City reached the last 16 with one group game remaining last season and Guardiola is determined to repeat that, with a victory in France also ensuring top spot.
"I want to qualify that is the first target," he said. "In that period when you start the season until now, the most important issue is qualification for the Champions League [knockout stage]. With the Premier League it is important to be there of course. but at the end you have more time.
"If you make one or two mistakes it can be the end. It is a dangerous competition. We are not already qualified. That is the most important issue. I know with this competition how tough it is.
"When you believe it is done, it is not done until it is done. On Tuesday we have the first chance, of course we have another one at home against Hoffenheim.
"But we would like to avoid that pressure, to play against Hoffenheim the last game. The first is to qualify and if we win then we finish first in the group stage. It is important to play the second leg at home.
"It is not decisive but it is a small advantage. The first job is to qualify."
