Exclusive: Monaco’s Vanderson on the Champions League duel against Manchester City: “Practically a national team”
In an interview with Fellipe Perdigão for 365Scores Brazil., Monaco’s Vanderson talks about the Champions League duel against Manchester City: “Practically a national team”
Monaco is looking for a comeback in the Champions League this Wednesday (10/01) after losing 4-1 to Club Brugge in their debut. The French team faces Manchester City at the Stade Louis II in Monaco.
One of the team’s stars, right-back Vanderson—a regular in Carlo Ancelotti‘s call-ups for the Brazilian national team before an injury forced him to withdraw from the latest squad—spoke about the match’s difficulties in an exclusive interview with 365Scores.
“It will be a complicated duel. Manchester City is a very qualified team and has great players, but our team also has athletes who can make a difference. I believe it will be a very balanced match and we are counting on the support of our fans to come out with the victory.”
Manchester City’s main weapon, Erling Haaland, has nine goals in seven games for the team this season. He has only failed to score in one match, in the defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League. Monaco is preparing strategies to stop the Norwegian striker.
“We are aware that City is practically a national team with great players. Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world, it will certainly be difficult to contain him on the field, but we have our strategy to try to neutralize him and prevent him from being a decisive factor in the match,” he told 365Scores.
Vanderson is expected to start the match, forming the defensive line alongside Thilo Kehrer, Eric Dier and the Brazilian Caio Henrique. Monaco has an extensive list of absentees, with Camara, Zakaria, Bamba, Golovin, Hradecky, Michal and Pogba.
See other answers from Monaco’s Vanderson:
Strategy to beat City
“City is a great team, with a great coach, but we also have a qualified team and a competent coach (the Austrian Adi Hütter), who will do everything to put together a plan for us to win the match in front of our fans.”
City’s strong point with Doku
“We know that Doku (Jérémy Doku, Belgian striker) is a great player, with a lot of quality and has the 1 on 1 as a strong point. It will be a complicated task, but it is a mission that I will do everything to fulfill in the best way for the team.”
Preference for playing as a full-back or wing-back
“I don’t think I have a preference for playing further back or further forward, the important thing is to be on the field to help my teammates. I believe I can do my job well both defensively and offensively, but first of all, I have to do what the coach tells me to do.”
High number of absences
“Nowadays it is almost impossible to see a team that does not suffer from injuries. There are many matches with a very intense rhythm, at a high level and against opponents that make you go to the limit. But this is a problem that is left aside when we enter the field, whoever plays will give their all to contribute and achieve a positive result.”
Vanderson’s numbers in the season:
