Hungry City cruise into Champions League last eight

Men's Team

City reach 100 goals in 2020/21 season

Two goals in the opening 20 minutes Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan wrapped the tie up with City already leading by a couple of goals from the first leg.

Some of the football was a delight to watch, with City very much looking like a team on a mission.

City looked confident and sharp from kick-off, with Joao Cancelo’s delightful chip almost volleyed home by Phil Foden on seven minutes.

Six minutes later, City were ahead with a trademark stunner from De Bruyne who received a pass from Mahrez before thundering an angled shot in off the underside of the bar to make it 1-0.

Another six minutes and the tie was as good as over as Phil Foden burst forward through the middle of the Gladbach half before sending a disguised through ball to Gundogan who took one touch before placing a low shot inside the left post – his 15^th of a magnificent campaign.

The only surprise was there was no further scoring in what was a sparkling display that smacked of hunger and steely determination from every player in sky blue.

City’s joy evident throughout

This group of players genuinely love playing football.

That may sound like an obvious statement, but the joy in the way they go about their business is shining brightly and, in this game, perhaps more than any time this season.

The movement, the passing, the vision, and the creativity make the football an artform, with each passage of play a new brush stroke on an unfinished canvas.

It may sound a bit flowery but watching beautiful football has you reaching for superlatives at times!

Rotation at its best

Pep says the only problem with his rotation policy is keeping everyone happy.

It’s fair to say that the majority of the City first team squad would be playing week in, week out if they were elsewhere.

But at City, you have to sit some games out, impress in training and give your all for the shirt when you do get the chance – a definite recipe for success.

It is a privilege to play in a team this good and the players know that – that’s where the hunger, dynamism and desire comes from every time we play.

What it means…

City sail into Friday’s quarter-final and semi-final draw in Nyon. It will take place at 11am (GMT) and will be live on BT Sport and our official Twitter page with reaction on mancity.com.

Star man: KDB

Peaking to his best form at just the right time.

What’s next?

City travel to Goodison Park on Saturday to take on Everton in the FA Cup 6^th round (kick-off 5.30pm).

Pep reaction

“Today is good. We are going to celebrate it. Everybody is fit. But everything can change in one day.

“The international break is coming up and we don’t know how people will come back.

Teams

City: Ederson, Walker, Dias (Laporte 69), Stones, Cancelo (Zinchenko 63), Rodrigo (Fernandinho 63), Gundogan (Sterling 69), De Bruyne (c), Foden, Bernardo (Aguero 75), Mahrez

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Ake, Jesus, Torres, Mendy, Garcia

Gladbach: Sommer, Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini, Hofmann, Neuhaus, Stindl, Zakaria, Embolo (Wolf 64), Thuram (Plea 64)

Subs: Lang,Krame, Herrmann, Beyer, Traoré, Wendt, Lazaro, Sippel, Jantschke, Grün

STAT ZONE

• City have not conceded a Champions League goal in 11 hours and 35 minutes – the second longest such run in UCL history.
• City have now won 24 of the last 25 games.
• Kevin De Bruyne’s goal was our 100^th of the season in all competitions.
• City are unbeaten in six games against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League (won five, drawn one), scoring at least two goals in each of the four victories.
• Borussia’s previous ‘trip’ to City ended in their joint-heaviest defeat away from home in the Champions League (4-0).
• Since losing three consecutive home games in the competition between March and September 2018, City have won 11 of our last 12 Champions League outings at Etihad Stadium (drawn one
• Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Raheem Sterling has scored 13 goals in home games in the Champions League (19 appearances) - the most of any player for the club and also the most by an English player in the competition in this period.

Sergio Aguero has scored 19 goals in 28 Champions