The two Premier League sides will meet at Porto on Saturday to win greatest trophy in European football. Chelsea have twice reached the final of UCL losing to Manchester United in Moscow 2008 and won Bayern Munich in Munich 2012.
However, this is the first time Manchester City have reached the final stage of UCL but, Guardiola’s experience will count.
Pep Guardiola On Facing Tuchel And Chelsea Team:
“When they have the ball it’s difficult to control them because of their players so close,” Guardiola explained at his pre-match press conference this afternoon.
“Their holding midfielders move perfectly with each other and, at the same time, they make the pitch so wide with wing-backs and so deep with the movement of [Timo] Werner.
“So they are difficult to control because they move perfectly with (Christian) Pulisic and (Mason) Mount in the pockets. Once these players get the ball, they are so direct. They are not players trying to pass the ball, their movement is so clever.
“I saw this morning their game against Aston Villa. They lost but they played good, controlled the game, the process they have they do really well”.
I couldn’t expect a tougher opponent. We know it. “We’re going to face them knowing what we have to do to beat them. I’m more concerned about what we have to do with the ball.
“If our strategy with the ball is right – and the strategy from day one since we arrived – is with the ball. This is what we will work on the two or three days before the final on Saturday.”
