EPL: Guardiola warn Man City players about Ronaldo ahead of Derby

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has admitted they will have a big task to stop “one of the greatest players in history” in Cristiano Ronaldo, during the Manchester Derby on Saturday.

Ronaldo has netted nine times in 11 games since he returned to Old Trafford in the summer.

The 36-year-old scored a brace on Tuesday, as they held Atalanta to a 2-2 draw in the Champions League.

“I didn’t see the United match [against Atalanta], I’m going to analyse and to see what they are so I know how good they are,” said Guardiola, after watching his side beat Club Brugge 4-1.

“We saw it last season. They have one of the best players in history, a guy who can be a scoring machine.”

Guardiola insisted in the build up that the clash with Brugge was “more important” than the meeting with United. After Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig, City are top of Group A with two games to play.

“People [were upset] for the fact I said today is more important than United and it was,” said Guardiola. “Now, the most important game ever is United.

“The second half [against Brugge] was really good. A good game, good victory. We need one point to go through, three points to win the group.”