LONDON • Kevin de Bruyne has rubbished suggestions that Tottenham's new 62,000-capacity ground could influence the outcome of the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.
Speaking ahead of their visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium today, the Belgium midfielder insisted he "did not care about it" despite claims the new home, which will host its second game, could act as an extra incentive for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
He added: "I care about the team we play. Everybody talks about the stadium like it's something special.
"Everybody has a stadium. Everybody has supporters. They'll be up for it. They'll probably be a little bit more excited but, in the end, it's a stadium with supporters.
"If they go to Wembley with 80,000 or there with 62,000 (fans), it'll be the same. It'll be a tough game, but we'll be all right."
Like his manager Pep Guardiola, de Bruyne is not entertaining any talk of an unprecedented quadruple even though City remain on course for the feat, given their fixture congestion.
The 27-year-old said: "You know how heavy the schedule is? People underestimate how the fixtures come that quickly. We're just going to play (on) Tuesday and, hopefully, play a good game."
BRING IT ON
Everybody talks about the stadium like it's something special. Everybody has a stadium. Everybody has supporters. They'll be up for it. They'll probably be a little bit more excited but, in the end, it's a stadium with supporters. It'll be a tough game, but we'll be all right.
'KEVIN DE BRUYNE, Manchester City midfielder, on his team not intimidated by Tottenham's new home.
HOME COMFORTS
Maybe the City players don't realise because they've always played at home, but we've played away from home for almost two years.
SON HEUNG-MIN, Spurs forward, on how their new stadium will lift the players.
However, Spurs forward Son Heung-min has countered de Bruyne by insisting the atmosphere can be beneficial as "we've missed our home a lot".
The South Korea international said yesterday: "Maybe the City players don't realise because they've always played at home, but we've played away from home for almost two years."
Spurs captain Hugo Lloris, who will be the player most under the spotlight after a string of under-par displays, also feels the crowd will "make City's life harder".
The France goalkeeper said: "At some moments in the game, we (will) feel the power, this can be a help for the team."
City remained in London after their FA Cup semi-final win over Brighton instead of returning to Manchester to minimise disruption at this crucial period of the season.
Striker Sergio Aguero has shaken off a muscle injury and could return to action today after missing the last two matches.
Guardiola said yesterday that he expected Spurs to stick to their attacking instincts as they eye a first European win in their new home.
"We know what we are going to face, it's up to us how we handle it. If we don't, that's because we are not prepared to go through," the Spaniard said.
"I will give my message to the players, always playing against Spurs away they will always play in that way I can't expect differently.
"How we handle that if they do it we must try to do it more. Maybe they will play high press and aggressive, we will prepare for that."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
TOTTENHAM V MAN CITY
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 2.55am
Man City face FIFA transfer ban: report A transfer ban for the Premier League champions would come less than a month after Chelsea were hit with the same sanction for 29 breaches of article 19
Man City to Get Points Deduction, Cl Ban & Transfer Ban
Complacency and despondency. there is no room for complacency or despair in our faith The complacent Christian has no great love for God and no real
No room for complacency - KPMG Global
Hougang United Football Club, one of nine clubs in the professional football league, has filed a police report against an employee after losing S$278,200 from its coffers. ADVERTISING A female administrative staff member, Tean Tai Tee, allegedly misappropriated the sales revenue from the clubhouse between Nov 29 and Dec 11 last year.
tiagong, this female employee hoot Hong Gan United Football
Portland ties the Western Conference series 1-1 with a 97-90 victory. and the Portland Trail Blazers turned back the Denver Nuggets 97-90 on Yim's bow tie habit led to "Bow Tie
McCollum leads Blazers past cold Nuggets, 97-90
Feb 09, 2019 · He cited an example from just a couple of years ago. Davy Klaassen was Ajax's captain then. He was 24. The club had high hopes for a young midfielder, Donny van der Beek, but he needed a place
How two Ajax old boys brought famous Dutch club back to the
Harry Kane STARTS Champions League final for Tottenham
Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge into top four March 12, 2019 LONDON (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed Manchester United's lack of ruthlessness as the Norwegian suffered his first domestic defeat as caretaker manager in a 2-0 loss at Arsenal on Sunday night.
Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on their way to a comfortable 2-0 away win over Cyprus in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday. Michy
Eden Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium
Time for Sanchez, Lukaku to shine LONDON • Caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku to step up for Manchester United after confirming that the injured Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard will be out for up to three weeks.
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United
Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for Saturday's all-English Champions League final, and use a drone for the first time to monitor fan activity.
Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English CL final
Rio Ferdinand has been linked with the director of football role at Manchester United. I'll be discussing this and much more on the slowest growing Manchester United YouTube channel in the
How David De Gea went from 11st liability to the - The Sun
Harry Winks has shrugged off criticism of Tottenham after their defeat to Wolves, saying the fact that the north Londoners have even been considered title contenders and are "fuming" at their
Harry Winks shrugs off 'Spursy' slight following shock defeat
Fans who purchase the World Cup Ticket Package on reds.com may pick up their T-shirt at the World Cup Viewing Village events, which coincide with every match the US Women's National team plays, or at any Reds home game at the Fan Club Corner (just inside the main entrance).
Liverpool vs. Tottenham Champions League score: Salah
Fabregas Completes Move from Chelsea to Monaco, Reunites With Henry Fabregas put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal at the Stade Louis II after passing a medical earlier in the day, as he teams up with former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry on the Mediterranean coast.
Cesc Fabregas completes move to Monaco, reunites with Thierry
0 comments:
Post a Comment