Rudi García: “City are the big favorites”

Rudi García wanted to give hope to his team in the preview of a game of vital importance for Lyon, who could qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League to beat Manchester City. “Having eliminated Juventus from Turin should and gives us more confidence. Appetite comes with food“said the French team coach.

The coach stated that they want to stay “a long time in Lisbon”, but they know that “City are the big favorites in this match“.” The start of the quarterfinals showed that the favorites could be beaten. We hope it will be repeated again on Saturday“he declared.

“I hope we are as good as these last two games. We will have to exist with the ball and score. We are capable of doing it, “said Rudi, questioned on the issue of possession against Guardiola's team. Of course, he knows that he will not be able to win that battle.” We will have to get more chances, be more dangerous although we know that we will not win the battle for possession because it is the DNA of City“He said.” We will try to make the best possible use of the ball and pose problems for them, “said the coach.

At Lyon they know the importance of the game and it shows that they have conscientiously prepared the game. “We watched the City games after the lockdown. It is not the system that counts, it is what we will put on it, the animation, the sacrifice“said Rudi Garcia.” We will have to run even more and use the ball because we can have interesting phases in the game, “he revealed. The French will play to their” strengths “and try”annihilate the opponent's, even if he has many“.” The tactical aspect is important, but the team will be a weapon for us to do well in this game. We are all together, one behind the other. We are willing to give everything to continue the adventure“, concluded the technician.

Aouar: “We are clear that we are not the favorites”

“We will be very humble in our approaches”said Aouar, who also noted that eliminating Juventus from the competition could prove to be a double-edged sword, as it has probably meant that City have “a great game” in store for them.

The French team player appeared at a press conference with the coach, Rudi Garcia, who agreed that the English are favorites although “The quarterfinals of the Champions League are showing that the odds may not be right.”

Garcia stressed that they will make efforts to prevent City's “individual talent” from giving them “problems” and that they will seek to keep the pressure on the high side.

And he is not naive: “Guardiola's men are going to go out 'very ferocious' to the field”, I consider.

The press conference saved for the end a personal question to Aouar, who was questioned about the praise that Guardiola has recently given him and the possibility of changing teams in the near future. “You can only go if we win the Champions League!” Garcia joked.

The biggest unknown that the Lyon coach keeps, about which he has not given clues today, is the offensive reference that will accompany the Dutch Memphis Depay, a player who has benefited from the break due to the pandemic, since he has been able to recover from the ligament tear he suffered at the end of 2019. Moussa Dembelé or former Villarreal striker from Cameroon Ekambi, that is the surprise that Rudi García will keep until the end. – EFE