'Wow': Pep Guardiola in disbelief as he learns bizarre link between Man City and Champions League opponents
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Manchester City resume their Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening with a clash against Slovan Bratislava.
Pep Guardiola‘s side kicked off their European adventure with a goalless draw to Inter Milan last week.
Manchester City then followed it up with two further draws with Arsenal and Newcastle United in the Premier League, either side of a 2-1 victory over Watford in the Carabao Cup.
Under the new Champions League format, City will be eager to get three points on the board when they face Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava.
Their opponents on Tuesday endured a sobering start to their Champions League campaign after being hammered 5-1 by Celtic on matchday one. Things will only get more difficult when they face City’s host of world-class stars.
Pep Guardiola stunned by Man City link to Slovan Bratislava
Tuesday’s meeting sees one of the Champions League favourites come up against one of the lowest-ranked sides in the competition.
It should be a fairly simple night for Guardiola’s men, but it will be an extra special occasion for Bratislava captain Vladimir Weiss.
The 34-year-old winger will be facing City 12 years after leaving the Manchester club as an academy graduate.
Guardiola could hardly believe it when it was pointed out that Weiss was a Man City academy player and won the Youth Cup with them in 2008.
Speaking on TNT Sports, he said: “Are you joking? Wow."
"2008? He was in the academy and won the cup? He's the captain? That's nice to know."
Guardiola then confirmed that he would have to meet with Weiss after the game, presumably to talk about his time at City.
Vladimir Weiss on his time at Manchester City
Weiss is likely not a name that springs to mind for City fans, but the Bratislava-born winger spent six years in Manchester between 2006 and 2012.
He spent three years in the academy and scored in the second leg of the 2008 Youth Cup final, before he broke through to the first team in 2009.
Weiss made five senior appearances for City and scored once – in a 3-0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup in 2009.
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As quoted by Manchester City’s official website, the 34-year-old reflected on his time at the club this week: “I have the best memories of my time at City.
"It was an amazing achievement to break through to the first team at a young age with the players that were already in the squad.
"With time, there were better and better players and with Mancini coming in, my chances were getting smaller.
"I am always going to watch City, not just because they're my first club but because they play the best football in the world for me.”
