Monaco vs Manchester City - Monaco wait on Falcao fitness ahead of Man City showdown - 7M sport

Monaco vs Manchester City - Monaco wait on Falcao fitness ahead of Man City showdown



Posted Wednesday, March 15, 2017 by PA

Radamel Falcao remains a doubt for Monaco's decisive Champions League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday.

The prolific Colombian, who scored twice in Monaco's 5-3 defeat in the first leg of the last-16 tie, suffered a hip injury in the latter stages of Saturday's Ligue 1 victory over Bordeaux.

Falcao has shown signs of improvement and seemed to play a full part in training on Tuesday but a final decision on the 31-year-old's involvement is still to be made.

Manager Leonardo Jardim said: "He is feeling better now but we are not sure yet. We have to wait until tomorrow to take a decision."

Monaco boast a side laden with attacking talent but Jardim needs all the firepower he can muster against a City side similarly committed to pressing forward.

Jardim said: "I am sure the two teams will respect their DNA because it is difficult to change the mentality of a team before a game. I think the two teams will attack and we can expect a lot of goals.

"We know we have to score at least two more but I think the individual quality of the City players is so dangerous they can score at any moment. So, to qualify I think we will need to score at least three goals."

City boss Pep Guardiola also believes fans can look forward to another high-scoring encounter after a pulsating meeting at the Etihad Stadium last month.

But as he has previously warned, Guardiola does not think his team will be able to keep out the attacking might of the Ligue 1 leaders, who have scored 123 goals in all competitions this season.

He intends to take them on at their own game once again by urging his team to keep chasing goals.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola said: "When one team scores 124 goals (actually 123), it means they can score in many, many, many ways, so the best way is to score goals!

"Take the ball and attack as much as possible is the only way I know to beat this type of team.

"If one team scores 124 goals and you are thinking about only defending for 90 minutes because we won one game 5-3, you kill yourself.

"Monaco are a team created to attack and our team is created to attack, or at least to score goals, so in that way it will be a great game. I invite people to come here and see a good game. I am pretty sure of that."

Guardiola, who twice won the Champions League with Barcelona, is without long-term injury victims Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan but otherwise has a full-strength squad to choose from.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.