Rose urges Gladbach to be brave against City: 'Nothing to lose'

Budapest, Feb 23, 2021 (AFP) - Borussia Monchengladbach coach Marco Rose insists his side has nothing to lose against high-flying Manchester City, who are on an 18-match winning streak, going into Wednesday's Champions League last 16, first leg tie.

City's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday extended their record run in all competitions, while Gladbach are struggling in the Bundesliga after taking just a point from their last three games.

Morale is low in the Gladbach camp after last week's bombshell announcement that Rose will leave at the end of the season to coach rivals Dortmund.

However, the focus now is on trying to topple Pep Guardiola's star-studded City.

"The boys have earned this special evening," Rose said Tuesday in Monchengladbach with the home leg moved to Budapest due to Germany's Covid-19 travel restrictions.

"You can only win, first and foremost, in a game like this.

"It's a big thing for the club that we're in (the last 16). The boys should enjoy it.

"We need to trust ourselves and play with a lot of courage and passion," he added.

Rose urged his team to put aside poor results and the off-field turbulence to make life hard for City.

"If there is something that Manchester City don't like, then it's not having the ball. We need to play with courage and defend with passion," Rose added before the flight to Hungary.

Gladbach have the players to shock City with their attack spearheaded by French forwards Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram.

"Gladbach are always dangerous," warned City's Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan at a press conference in Manchester on Tuesday.

"On a good day they can beat any opponent."

However, the Premier League leaders start as clear favourites to reach the quarter-finals with the last 16, return leg scheduled for March 16 in Manchester.

"We know how good we can be. And we know what we have to do. It's up to us," said Gundogan, who put City's record run down to "a mixture of the right tactics, the quality of the players and our mentality".

Gladbach's Swedish left-back Oscar Wendt is relishing the chance to see his team test themselves against the Premier League leaders.

"The anticipation is huge. We have the chance to compete perhaps the best team in the world right now. It's just fun," said the 35-year-old.