Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has cautioned his squad not to undervalue Copenhagen.
After defeating Copenhagen 3-1 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League match, his team moved one step closer to the quarterfinals.
The goals in Denmark came from Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne. And following the triumph, he advised prudence ahead of the second leg.
He said: “I know how difficult it is. People believe it is easy. Ask United and Bayern. It’s a really tough opponent.”
Guardiola was happy with how his players performed and how they were able to calm down the home supporters.
However, he issued a warning against complacency, pointing out Copenhagen’s impressive group stage show to everybody.
“We made perfect concepts today. My job is to warn the players, the attributes they have. We behaved with character and personality, patience. Everyone was at a top level. It’s not decisive, a good result. Hopefully we can make the quarters.
“Copenhagen are so compact. These type of games you expect the transitions where you suffer. Slow it down in this incredible stadium with the crowd behind. Make 1,000 goals, don’t allow them to score a goal.
“The stadium goes down. We have to find the spaces in the next leg. I saw the United games and how difficult it was for them. I knew it, the players knew it. They follow us and play for that way.”
Copenhagen were part of United’s group in the Champions League this season. The Danish team went to the next round of the competition, along with Bayern Munich.
United were knocked out and finished bottom of the group. Copenhagen gave a tough time to the Red Devils as they won 4-3 at their home in Denmark.
Guardiola wants his team to be wary of the threat Copenhagen can pose and in doing that, he rubbed salt in United’s wounds.
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