Manchester City return to Champions League competition on Tuesday evening when they take on FC Copenhagen.
City will be feeling confident as they enter the knock-out stages of the competition they are looking to become the first Premier League team to retain.
Pep Guardiola’s side are the immense favourites against the plucky Danes but their manager, Jacob Neestrup, has ‘great faith’ his side could pull off an upset against a team he considers the best on the planet.
Man City get big praise from the FC Copenhagen manager
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Monday, Neestrup said: “All teams have strengths and weaknesses, so you always have a chance.
“The most important thing is to be ourselves and play with the same mindset as in the group stage. We know they’re a really good team, but like Bayern, (Manchester) United and Galatasaray, their players also only have two legs and two feet.
“It’s a big test for us and the biggest we’ve had so far this season. For me, City are the best team in the world right now, even if you look back at recent seasons.
“But what’s less likely? Beating City or progressing from a group with Bayern, United and Galatasaray, where after four-and-a-half games we were two goals down against United and needed six points in the two games?
“We have faced big challenges before and I have great faith in my team that they’ll deliver a good performance and from there a match as close as possible.
“It’s hard to pin down what a good performance is, but a good result is a draw and a perfect result is a win.”
A chance but a slim one
City go into the knock-out stages in great form having won their last 10 games in all competitions as they start to truly hit their stride in the Premier League title race.
They were made to work hard for it but the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday briefly saw the Blues leapfrog Liverpool to go top of the table.
The Merseyside outfit quickly reclaimed it by defeating Burnley but the pressure is now on.
Erling Haaland grabbed both goals and he suddenly looks back to his best after a stint on the side lines. Coupled with Kevin De Bruyne’s form, it doesn’t look good for Copenhagen.
But, they did beat the other side from Manchester on home turf in the group stages and the intimidating atmosphere of the Parken Stadium could certainly help.
Of course Copenhagen have a chance, but it’s only a very slim one.
