Man City boss Pep Guardiola suggests Porto tried to ‘copy and paste’ tactics from Leicester thrashing

Coach also said there was ‘bad news’ around Fernandinho’s late injury in the club’s Champions League opener

Pep Guardiola was at odds with Porto coach Sergio Conceicao throughout the fixture (Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has suggested that Porto tried to “copy and paste” the tactics that Leicester used in their 5-2 thrashing of Manchester City last month.

On Wednesday evening, City defeated Porto 3-1 in their Champions League group-stage opener, with Sergio Aguero’s first-half penalty cancelling out Luis Diaz’s opener before an Ilkay Gundogan free-kick and fine Ferran Torres finish secured the win for the hosts in the second half

And Guardiola noted the similarities between Porto’s approach at the Etihad Stadium and that of Leicester in Man City’s Premier League defeat by the Foxes in September.

“I’m happy with all the game, we knew how tough it would be,” the Spaniard said after the final whistle. 

“Alongside Benfica, they are the best team in Portugal. They played so defensively with five at the back, we had to be patient.

“Maybe they saw the Leicester 5-2 and tried to copy and paste.”

Guardiola and Porto coach Sergio Conceicao had exchanged pleasantries in the lead-up to the Group C fixture, but were frequently at odds during the match.

And Guardiola’s agitation was compounded by a late injury to Fernandinho, who was forced off with five minutes to go in the second half.

The City boss was honest in his assessment of the situation around the midfielder, saying: “Bad news.

“[It’s] in the place he was injured [before]. He will be out a long time. It’s happened.”

City next take to the pitch on Saturday, visiting West Ham in the Premier League.