Haaland opens the score!

Pep Guardiola Downplays Pressure on Manchester City Ahead of Champions League Debut Against Napoli

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola stated in a press conference that his team is “apparently not the favorite” to win the 2025/26 Champions League ahead of their opening match against Napoli on Thursday.

“Apparently, we’re not favorites. We’re going to enjoy the moment and the journey. We’re happy to be here. In all these years, we’ve only won one Champions League, so it’s going to be very tough,” Guardiola said.

The Spanish coach emphasized the importance of starting the group stage on the right foot:
“If you start with a bad result, everything gets complicated. Last year we drew with Inter; I hope we can achieve something better now.”

Guardiola avoided prioritizing between the Premier League and the Champions League: “My priority is always the next game. The group stage is always tough, and now, with this format, it’s even more unpredictable. What we need to do is earn as many points as possible to finish among the top eight.”

The matchup against Napoli will have an added twist: the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the Etihad Stadium after signing with the Italian club this summer. “I’m really looking forward to seeing him after the game. Of course, it’s nice to have him back,” Guardiola concluded.