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PEP ON GUARD

Pep Guardiola praying Shakhtar Donetsk don’t repeat history and end Manchester City’s stunning start

PEP GUARDIOLA is praying history does not repeat itself as he looks to continue Manchester City's outstanding start.

It was Matchday Two of the Champions League last September when his ten-match winning streak came to an end.

 Pep Guardiola is wary of what happened to Manchester City a year ago
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Pep Guardiola is wary of what happened to Manchester City a year agoCredit: Reuters
 City's ten-match winning run came to an end at Celtic last September
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City's ten-match winning run came to an end at Celtic last SeptemberCredit: EPA

That thrilling draw at Celtic was the start of what turned into a tricky autumn period for Guardiola and his Etihad squad.

Now on Tuesday they face Shakhtar Donetsk - a team who Pep has had problems with in the past - looking to make sure the wheels don't come off again.

Guardiola said: "It is the seventh time I play against Shakhtar in my career, once in the Super Cup. Every time before I have the same feeling.

"The first time we faced them in the group stage, my Barcelona team went to see them and came back saying "wow".

"My team were really impressed. Fernandinho played and Douglas Costa and they had a lot of Brazilians.

"In Barcelona all the time it was the same, "Shakhtar? Ukraine? Who cares. Which players play - nobody knows them'.

"I can assure you it was one of the best teams in terms of playing football. They had five or six Brazilians.

"Always was so tough for me. For Barcelona, Bayern, we have a good result but it was so tough. The Super Cup final we won in extra time."

 The draw at Celtic was the start of what turned into a tricky autumn period for Guardiola and his Etihad squad
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The draw at Celtic was the start of what turned into a tricky autumn period for Guardiola and his Etihad squadCredit: EPA
 Guardiola doesn't want the same thing to happen against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday
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Guardiola doesn't want the same thing to happen against Shakhtar Donetsk on TuesdayCredit: AFP or licensors

City got off to a perfect Euro start this time around with a thumping win in Feyenoord but have a double header against a talented Napoli side looming.

Guardiola said: "Shakhtar beat one of the best teams in Napoli. Napoli are one of the three or four or five best teams at playing football.

"They are leading the Italian league - and they beat them. That group is tricky.

"People say 'Napoli - it's not Milan or Juventus. Shakhtar, it's Ukraine'. The group is tricky.

"Our next two games are at home and we can take a big step towards the knockout round in Feburary.

"The players today are going to see how good they are and hopefully I can convince them to take Shakhtar seriously.

"In the Champions League, you play 30 minutes like we did against Crystal Palace it will be complicated.


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"We went out to Monaco [last season] because we played 45 minutes bad and we were out.

"In that level you cannot concede a lot of minutes not playing good. Not being serious. Shakhtar Donetsk from my experience deserve all the credit."

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