Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been previewing his side's upcoming clash with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
In the pre-match press conference, Guardiola notably made reference to Dortmund's recruitment of young players in recent years.
“They spend a lot of money on young players and they pay a lot of money to agents to bring those players to Dortmund," Guardiola said in a comment that is sure to raise eyebrows in Germany and across European football.
Whatever the tactics, Dortmund have certainly succeeded in signing some of the best young players in Europe in recent years, including Jadon Sancho from Man City and Erling Haaland from RB Salzburg.
Guardiola's comments also come as the speculation around the future of Erling Haaland intensifies with the striker’s agent, Mino Raiola on a European tour over the past week.
City had been heavily linked to the Norwegian but Guardiola has recently ruled out a move for a striker.
"We are not going to sign any striker, it's impossible - we cannot afford it. It's impossible. That's not going to happen, no," the Man City boss said last week.
Previewing the Champions League quarter-final more broadly, Guardiola was full of praise for Dortmund as a club and the quality of their players.
“If one person knows in Manchester about Borussia Dortmund it is me. The culture of this club, the way they play and I will not find one single player from Borussia Dortmund without quality," he explained.
“Maybe they didn't find this season the consistency in the Bundesliga to win every week but for two knockout games they are able to do anything.”
City and Dortmund play at the Etihad Stadium at 8pm on Tuesday evening before the second-leg in Germany just eight days later.
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