Barcelona’s high spirits after securing a spot in the UCL quarter-finals but prefer not to face Manchester City.
Barcelona is experiencing a great morale boost following their qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals after a convincing victory over Napoli. As the draw approaches tomorrow, coaches and players are speculating and making predictions about which opponent they prefer and which they hope to avoid. According to Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo, in this regard, it’s evident that few are eager to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, primarily due to the quality of a squad led by a fantastic coach who clinched the last Champions League title.
The attacking prowess of City, featuring players like Haaland, Julián Álvarez, Bernardo Silva, Foden, De Bruyne, and Grealish, is formidable, making it preferable to steer clear of them if possible. Additionally, there’s a minor but noteworthy factor in the mix: comments from Xavi directed at journalists close to Pep, which some players feel could provide extra motivation for the already fiercely competitive Santpedor coach. Hence, the further away Barcelona stays from City, the better.
