Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are feeling good about themselves ahead of their Champions League round of 16 clash with Schalke.
The blues boss was talking to reporters at a press conference this afternoon and stressed the importance of making the most of every opportunity - whether it be on the domestic or European front.
"We have to control our emotions, suffer the bad moments," stressed Guardiola. "The right moments make the difference. We’re confident. We arrive with many dreams in our heads. We want to make it hard, we want to make it strong. We want to try and score goals it’s so important.
"When you speak a few weeks ago when we lost at Newcastle the people didn’t say we played attractive football. I have the feeling the players will see it as a challenge for us. You can’t go through in these competitions if you’re not yourself. Sooner or later you’ll be out, here, the quarters. If you want to dream of the latter stages you have to be yourself, incredible every minute. It’s a challenge."
City made several changes for the FA Cup tie at Newport last weekend but they will be without Gabriel Jesus and John Stones in Germany. Guardiola said: "John has a groin problem, Gabriel finished in Newport with a hamstring problem. Not a big one, but both enough problems to not be here.
"That is the situations of both players. That’s normal when you play 25 games in three months. Sooner or later you’ll finish the season, they’ll get three weeks and if not you’ll destroy the competitions. Then we’ll go to China to play the big clubs and you have to win to start the season. Then the legs don’t work.
"Maybe FIFA will organise a new competition for those three weeks."
You have to suffer and survive the bad moments. But we are confident. We have many dreams in our head.
