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Publication date: Wednesday, October 21, 2020 11:26 AM
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are off to a “good start” in the Champions League after beating Porto 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
City fell behind early in the first half, but fought to claim all three points in their first match of the group stage.
Sergio Agüero scored from the penalty spot to equalize the score, before Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres secured the victory.
Y Guardiola says some tactical changes made shortly before the break gave his team the control they needed to get to the top.
Speaking after the match (via BBC Sport) he said: “This is a good start for us and the next step is to go to France to get second.
“In the set pieces they were strong. In the second half we didn’t concede anything to set pieces or counterattacks, so we controlled the game.
“In teams that are formed with a lot of support, we have to wait for their moment. We adjusted something at the end of the first half. We talked about being patient, you had to be patient and attack them at the right time, so we let them run ”.
Pep confirms absence due to Fernandinho injury
The victory has soured for City on the news that the midfielder Fernandinho will be out of service for up to six weeks with the recurrence of a leg injury.
The Brazilian came on as a substitute in the 85th minute, but limped off again in added time.
When asked for an update on the 35-year-old, Guardiola revealed: “It’s bad news, he’s in the place where he was injured before. It’s on his leg, I think he’ll be out for four to six weeks. It is a great blow for us because we need people there ”.
The city already has Kevin de Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy and Aymeric Laporte on the sidelines.
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