Team manager Pep Guardiola from English champions Manchester City expressed concern about the corona situation in Germany before the final group game of the Champions League at RB Leipzig this Tuesday (6.45 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and at DAZN).

“The situation in Germany is not good,” said Guardiola on Monday: “The rest of Europe, the rest of the world must learn that the problem has not been solved.

The virus is there, that's my concern. "

The guest appearance in Saxony takes place to the exclusion of the fans.

Because of the rapidly increasing corona numbers, the Saxon state government had, among other things, imposed a ban on spectators for professional sport.

"It would of course be better to play in front of spectators," said the former Bayern coach Guardiola: "But the authorities in Germany have decided that the game will take place without spectators because it is too dangerous."

The preparation for the game did not affect the lack of scenery.

The spread of the vaccines gives the Catalan hope.

"It gets better.

You can get sick, but you are more or less safe.

People don't die so easily anymore, that is by far the most important thing, "said Guardiola, who had lost his mother in April 2020, who died at the age of 82 as a result of a corona infection.

Guardiola also praised Ralf Rangnick and the German coach. “The German trainers work at a top level. I learned a lot from them. They work for top clubs in England, do an excellent job and have shown how good they are, ”said the former Bayern coach. In addition to the new United team manager Rangnick, Guardiola also named Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool FC) and Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea FC) as examples.

Julian Nagelsmann (Bayern Munich) also praised Guardiola: “I learned a lot from German culture and German football. I am very grateful for the experience. I took a lot with me. ”At Leipzig, which is looking for a coach after Jesse Marsch's dismissal, Guardiola believes in a solution from the RB cosmos. "You don't get a coach who doesn't embody the Red Bull philosophy with a lot of counter-pressing," said Guardiola.

The English champions ManCity, who have won the last seven competitive games, have already been selected as group A winners before their performance in Leipzig.

Guardiola described the duel as a "perfect training game".

You don't play for points, but to improve processes further.

However, Guardiola is also waiting in front of Leipzig: “If you find your rhythm, you can destroy an opponent.

We must pay attention."