Champions League: Guardiola faces as much as Haaland problem in final eight – The Guardian

Pep Guardiola has stated Erling Haaland is without doubt one of the greatest gamers on the planet however he refused to debate his curiosity within the striker after Manchester Metropolis landed Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League quarter-final draw.

Haaland is without doubt one of the names on Metropolis’s radar this summer time and the opposite Premier League golf equipment nonetheless within the competitors shall be relieved to have prevented the 20-year-old. Chelsea will face Porto and Liverpool shall be out for revenge once they meet Actual Madrid, who beat them in the 2018 final.

The draw threw up fascinating storylines. There shall be a resumption of hostilities between Chelsea and Liverpool on the European stage in the event that they win their respective ties, and Metropolis’s reward in the event that they beat Dortmund shall be a frightening semi-final in opposition to the holders, Bayern Munich, or Paris Saint-Germain, who met in last season’s final.

First, although, Metropolis must cope with Haaland. The Norway worldwide, additionally a goal for Chelsea and Manchester United, has scored 37 targets for membership and nation this season and his exploits for Dortmund have caught Guardiola’s eye.

“The numbers communicate for themselves,” Metropolis’s supervisor stated. “He is without doubt one of the greatest on the planet at his age. I noticed just a few video games, seen highlights of him, and the numbers are spectacular. I do know the standard of him and I feel everybody is aware of.”

Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, performed for Metropolis, who’ve by no means gone past the semi-finals of the event. Guardiola, although, refused to speak about signing the ahead. “He’s a participant for Dortmund,” he stated. “I don’t prefer it when folks speak about our gamers, you perceive I can’t reply this query.”

Metropolis, who’ve the primary leg at residence, additionally face a reunion with Jadon Sancho. The 20-year-old winger left Metropolis to affix Dortmund in 2017, however Guardiola insisted that he didn’t remorse dropping the England worldwide to the Bundesliga facet.

“I stated many instances, not a remorse, he decides,” Guardiola stated. “He’s doing rather well, congratulations, an distinctive participant. We would like him to remain however he decides to depart. I want him all the perfect besides when he performs in opposition to us. If he’s glad, I’m glad.”

Liverpool, who’ve endured a tough home marketing campaign, may have loads of motivation once they meet Madrid. There was controversy when Jürgen Klopp’s facet lost to the Spanish champions three years ago. Mohamed Salah was injured following a robust problem by Sergio Ramos.

Salah’s substitution modified the dynamic of the match and Madrid, impressed by Gareth Bale, clinched victory within the second half. But Liverpool, who won the Champions League in 2019, won’t be overawed about dealing with Zinedine Zidane’s facet, who’ve struggled in Europe up to now two seasons.

“It’s clearly a troublesome draw, however I’m positive with it as a result of if you happen to take a look at all the opposite groups you assume ‘Oh my god’ as a result of they’re all robust,” Klopp stated. “I’m actually trying ahead to the video games. It’s solely simply over two years in the past that we confronted them and it was a troublesome evening for us, so to get the prospect to play them once more is cool.”

Chelsea, who reached the final eight for the primary time since 2014 after beating Atlético Madrid, are favourites in opposition to Porto. But Thomas Tuchel is just not enthusiastic about a repeat of Chelsea’s 2005 semi-final in opposition to Liverpool, warning that Porto upset Juventus within the final spherical.

“Many individuals will perhaps now make us favourites in opposition to Porto,” Chelsea’s supervisor stated. “That won’t assist us as a result of you may ask in Turin their opinion about whether or not it lets you be favourites.”

PSG, who knocked out Barcelona within the final 16, may have their work lower out in opposition to Bayern. “Tough draw, however surprises exist,” PSG’s supervisor, Mauricio Pochettino, stated. “We knocked out Barcelona and now we concentrate on Bayern.”

The quarter-final ties are attributable to be performed on 6-7 and 13-14 April, with the semi-finals later that month and in early Could.