MAHREZ SEALS CITY FIRST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL AS CHELSEA BATTLE MADRID

Algeria international Riyad Karim Mahrez brace sealed Manchester City first ever Champions League appearance with a 2-0 win against Paris Saint- Germain on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium.

With City having won the first leg 2-1 in Paris, Pep Guardiola was eager to sustain his effort in proofing his critics wrong that winning the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011 wasn’t a fluke. Although, he has been criticized for his inability to return to the Champions League final in three years with Bayern Munich and his first four seasons at the Etihad.

Pep with his tactical approach in the second half of the first leg in Paris which his team recovered from a goal down to win 2-1. He employed the same tactics a few minutes after the start of the game in Etihad as PSG continued to pressure their opponent but his experience changed the game.

Pep said, “They put a lot of players in the middle and we struggled a lot in the first half to high press and we changed at half-time.

We recovered the ball better in the second half and we were much better in the way we played.”

Mahrez who was outstanding in the encounter double added to the free-kick he scored to put City 2-1 in the first leg. Obviously, with the red card to Argentine international Angel Di Maria the Paris Saint-Germain team weakened and the frustration on his team mate was unnecessary kicks on the City players especially that coming from Fernandinho.

Guardiola has praised his players putting critics to disbelieve as his victory in Barcelona that has constantly been overshadowed by Lionel Messi’s sterling form has now been set aside.

“It is for all of us and the club. I’m incredibly proud and my first thoughts are with the players who didn’t play today. They all deserve to play, everyone has made a contribution and now it is time to enjoy it.” Guardiola said.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will face Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League Wednesday for place in the final. Both teams had played 1-1 in Madrid with Chelsea having an away goal advantage. The Madrid team will enjoy the return of Sergio Ramos in defense, while Chelsea Ngolo Kante will retain his place in midfield having been outstanding in the first leg in Madrid.