Leeds United are the worst possible side for Manchester City to face between the two legs of their Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund next month.
That’s according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who has been looking ahead to the challenges his side face between now and the end of the season, and it seems he believes Leeds will be a big one.
Following their FA Cup quarter final win over Everton at the weekend, Manchester City are still on target for an unprecedented quadruple this season.
Guardiola’s side are seemingly well clear at the top of the Premier League, and are set to face Tottenham in the League Cup final later in April.
In the Champions League meanwhile, City have been drawn to face German side Borussia Dortmund at the quarter final stages of Europe’s biggest club competition.
Between those two midweek clashes with the Bundesliga outfit, City will have to face Leeds at The Etihad, and that is a prospect that Guardiola is rather concerned about.
Looking ahead to his side’s attempts to complete the quadruple between now and the end of the season, Guardiola was quoted by The MEN as saying: “When we come back, two months until the end of the season and every game is closer to winning titles but still there are many, many games.
“Leicester: 2-5 at home, how strong they are. And after, Champions League. And after, Leeds. Leeds is the worst opponent we can play between the Champions League. The worst.”
When the two side met at Elland Road earlier in the season, Leeds and City played out a memorable 1-1 draw, with Rodrigo’s first goal for Leeds cancelling out Raheem Sterling’s opener to earn a deserved point for Leeds.
I can certainly see where Guardiola is coming from here.
With the pace and intensity that Leeds play at so consistently, the effort that City would have to put into a game such as that could be hugely energy sapping at a time when they are midway through such a crucial Champions League clash.
As a result, there may be something of an opportunity for Leeds when it comes to this game.
With the Champions League surely a priority for City – and with the Premier League title seemingly all but secure – you wonder whether Guardiola might chose to rest his key players for that clash with Bielsa’s side to keep them fresh for the second leg of the Dortmund, handing Leeds the chance to pick up an eye-catching three points against a possibly weakened City team,