City v Sparta Prague - 23 Oct 2024 Manchester City FC - Official Website of Man City F.C.

YOUR GOAL?

I’m just getting a bit match sharp. I wanted to turn and make something happen. It’s something I’ve worked on when I’m younger, playing in the pocket. If you don’t check your shoulder so many times then the picture can change so quickly. I’m one that always checks my shoulder and tries to see what’s close to me.

It was very good for my confidence to score early and get back out there and feel sharp again. I’m going in the right direction now.

EXPECTATIONS ON YOU?

I think so yeah, after being the best player last year, that’s what everyone wants to see, to be the same player as last year. That’s the standard I’ve set myself and I want to get back there. I think the season is long enough to get back to my level. I need to keep going and keep showing what I can do.

FEEL PRESSURE?

No, I just enjoy football. I don’t think about what’s going on outside. I do massively put pressure on myself to get better in training and do better things. That’s the type of person I am, I want to push myself and be even better.

I can't blame my boys tonight, we played against the best team in the world with the best players in the world.

We just had to stay patient. When a team is sat so deep it will be difficult, he just said to stay patient and don’t try and rush things, play at our own pace and I think we did that in the second half. The manager spoke on the wingers staying wide as they can and the midfielder pulling out wide too as that is where the space was so it was something the manager spoke on.

The manager loves you sticking to your role and remaining patient. You have to trust the other lads to get the ball to you sometimes. That’s something the manager is big on.

Relief to score early?

Yeah of course, it makes it easier for us. We’ve had a couple of games where we conceded first. And then it makes it easier for the other team because they are already going to defend with a low block, but when we score in the first minutes, it made it easier for us. We had more of the ball and were more calm, we don’t need to be in a rush. So yeah, it was good.

Thoughts on Haaland's first?

Yeah, it was an amazing goal. I was speechless after his shot. When he scored against Dortmund I was watching it on TV, and to see it live was amazing.

Dressing room feeling confident?

We work for this. Even if we won by one goal it would be the same for us. Luckily this time we scored some beautiful goals.

Another special night for the Academy as Nico O'Reilly played his first game on Europe's biggest stage.

At the end of the game, there were four graduates from our Academy on the pitch.

All 36 teams in the 2024/25 Champions League have now played three games in the competition.

Aston Villa and Liverpool are the only teams with 100% records, while City are in third on seven points and with a goal difference of +9.

Remember - the top eight after eight games go straight to the Round of 16 with ninth to 24th heading into a playoff tie to reach that stage.

UEFA select Phil Foden as tonight's Man of the Match - there were plenty of candidates!

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With his brace tonight, Erling Haaland reached 44 goals in just 42 Champions League matches.

That makes him the joint-16th leading scorer in the competition's history with Didier Drogba.

His strike rate of 1.05 per game is unmatched by anyone to have scored more than 20.