Pep Guardiola is hoping home advantage can inspire a second leg fight-back against Liverpool.
The Manchester City boss believes his side are more than a match for anyone at the Etihad Stadium, but admits we need to deliver a clinical performance if we to turnaround a three-goal deficit.
“The team is ready to fight all the teams in Europe, I am sure of that,” he told journalists at Monday’s press conference.
“But the mountain you have to climb is really high, the teams are so good.
“We can compete with all the teams especially at home. But we did better than last season and my feeling is that we will be better again next season.”
It’s a contest widely regarded as the most intriguing of the Champions League’s last eight fixtures, but Guardiola is keen to simplify the challenge posed by Jurgen Klopp’s men.
“We have to play better to beat them,” he added.
“You cannot forget it’s a simple game. We have to focus on what we do.
“If we concede a goal, don’t give up. We did many times, in a short time we can create chances and after you have to be clinical.”
