Manchester City director offers reaction to UEFA Champions League league phase draw | OneFootball

Hugo Viana has issued an initial reaction from inside Manchester City to their latest league phase draw in the UEFA Champions League.

The Premier League giants now know the path ahead of them in Europe’s restructured competition, and it promises a demanding schedule filled with familiar faces and tricky away days.

Manchester City have been paired with Real Madrid once again, extending a run of five consecutive seasons meeting the Spanish giants in the competition, and will also face Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Villarreal, Galatasaray, Bodo/Glimt, and AS Monaco.

The new format, introduced for the 2024/25 season, has already drawn plenty of debate, but for Pep Guardiola’s side it will mean balancing high-profile European nights with the intensity of defending their Premier League crown.

Fans will no doubt relish another battle with Real Madrid, while trips to Villarreal and Monaco recall entertaining ties of the past. Meanwhile, the prospect of visiting Norwegian giants Bodo/Glimt offers a rare test in the Arctic Circle.

Contextually, Manchester City approach this European campaign with added intrigue. Last season’s disappointment, in which Pep Guardiola’s team were eliminated earlier than expected, has only fuelled determination to reclaim dominance on the continent.

Offering his initial thoughts on Manchester City’s draw for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, sporting director Hugo Viana has admitted his delight at the club avoiding the longer away trips available through the procedure.

“Every team wants to be in the Champions League so we are really happy and proud at the same time,” said Viana. “There are a lot of good games. The positive thing is that we avoided long trips.”

Viana continued, “It is positive because of the amount of games that we have. From September it will be a lot of games and it will be a challenge also for us, so without having the long trips is a positive.

“We are going to face some very good teams like Real Madrid – it is the fifth [consecutive] year that we will play against them.”

The Manchester City director also revealed his delight at reuniting with one of the club’s greatest-ever players as he said, “It is also really positive to have Kevin De Bruyne at home, our legend. It will be very positive to see him again.

“I think Pep [Guardiola] and all of his colleagues will be really happy to receive him and our fans will be also. It will be very exciting and we will be very happy to see him again.”

Attention will now turn towards how Pep Guardiola manages the balance between domestic and European commitments. With a congested schedule looming from September, squad rotation will be crucial, particularly with concerns over injuries to key players last season.

City supporters will also be intrigued by the Kevin De Bruyne reunion. The Belgian, who departed in the summer, will return to the Etihad in Napoli colours; a moment certain to be marked by an emotional reception from the home crowd.

The fixture may also serve as a test of sentiment, pitting Manchester City’s present midfield evolution against one of its greatest architects. Ultimately, Guardiola and his squad know the Champions League is a defining measure of their season. With heavyweight ties and emotional subplots ahead, City’s campaign has the makings of another dramatic European adventure.