City eager to extend good run of form

Manchester City will be aiming to book their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals when they take on Borussia Monchengladbach in the second leg of their last-16 tie at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

Goals from Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus saw the Premier League leaders ease to a 2-0 win in the first leg, and Monchengladbach head into the match in the midst of an abysmal run of form.

Two seasons ago as Manchester City won the first ever domestic treble of trophies in England, Pep Guardiola branded the possibility of ever doing a quadruple "almost impossible".

A season characterised by injuries, fixture congestion, player fatigue, coronavirus infections, and for City no pre-season, should have made the feat more improbable than ever.

Yet, City remain on course to prove Guardiola's prediction wrong.

Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Marco Rose paid tribute to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ahead of the two sides' Champions League last 16 second leg, saying the Premier League team are almost playing 'Total Football'.

Guardiola's City are league leaders in the English top-flight, boasting a 14-point lead over second-placed and rivals Manchester United.

Guardiola, who has guided City to two Premier League titles since arriving in 2016, used the Dutch tactics of 'Total Football' at former club Barcelona after having played under Johan Cruyff, who pioneered the philosophy.

'Total Football' is centred on the idea of players being accomplished and comfortable enough on the ball to play anywhere on the field.

"When City have the ball, it's incredibly hard for any opponent," Rose said before Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg in Budapest.

"Their gegenpressing after losing possession is world class and they move the ball forward very quickly. Pep has them playing almost Total Football.

"He is a fantastic character. He has had a massive influence on world football over the past years. He's passionate about things beyond football too and is an incredible human being."