Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to TNT Sports: "The first one, I cannot deny, is really important. [They can be dangerous] from transitions and they have the individual quality to do it.

"Mentally you have to be prepared. We have to be careful.

"Sergio Gomez can play as a winger, as a full-back and several positions where we can attack. It's good for him."

Image source, Getty Images

Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Stamenic is convinced his side can cause an upset against European champions Manchester City.

The Serbian side, who are back in the Champions League group stage for the first time in four years, face a daunting task as they take on the holders at the Etihad Stadium.

Red Star are also in poor form having lost two of their last three domestic league games but New Zealand international Stamenic believes they have nothing to fear.

The 21-year-old said at a press conference: “Man City have proved they are the best team in the world. They have shown that on the greatest stage.

“But we look at ourselves and how we can take the game head-on, how we can attack them, be brave, courageous and show we can compete with the best teams in the world.

“Football is very magical. Anything can happen in these games. I truly believe we are looking for nothing less than a win.

“We don’t go into a game thinking we are going to draw or be satisfied with a draw. We’ll endeavour to get a win and I truly believe we are capable of that and have a good enough team to cause some upsets.”

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden tells Dion Dublin on Football Focus about the emotions of winning the Champions League and what his ambitions are under Pep Guardiola.

"I could never have dreamed of winning this amount of trophies at 23," said Foden.

"If I had to pick one, last season you can't get much better to win the Champions League the way we did. It's a moment that will stick in my mind forever."

Watch the full interview below.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Brendan Rodgers believes "anything is possible" as his side embark on another Champions League campaign but concedes the team are "not at peak Celtic" yet.

Celtic return to the Champions League group stages for the second successive season, opening away to top seeds Feyenoord in Rotterdam, looking to build on positive performances last term that ultimately resulted in two draws from six games.

"We've got a long way to go before I think we'll be where I'm happy, where I want us to be," said Rodgers.

Despite that, he insists his squad have shown already this season that their "spirit will never be broken", adding that they have to have that at this level where people "want to dismiss you in the tournament".

The former Liverpool and Leicester City manager reiterated that his side will look to be competitive in every game as they seek his target of being in Europe after Christmas.

"That's what our aim is," he explained. "Whatever competition that is in, as long as we're in Europe after Christmas, that is our aim."

• Follow all the action from Feyenoord v Celtic in this page here

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City get the defence of their Champions League title underway tonight.

Red Star Belgrade are former winners of the European Cup and are one of Eastern Europe's most famous clubs.

However, compared to City, they are minnows these days.

The last time Red Star played an English side in the Champions League, they lost twice against Tottenham, by a combined score of 9-0.

Image source, BBC Sport

Red Star Belgrade, Serbian champions for the past six years, have fine European pedigree having won the elite competition in 1991.

Midfielder Marko Stamenic is convinced the club can become a force again.

“We are also a big club,” he said. “We are very capable players, very technical and intelligent players. We have an amazing set-up and can achieve great things.”

Stamenic, who joined Red Star in the summer, was in the FC Copenhagen side thrashed 5-0 by City in Manchester in last season’s group stage.

“We’ve had many conversations about that last game and the things I learned,” Stamenic said. “The most important thing is to switch mindset and be mentally prepared.”

Chris Sutton
Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City have started the season in formidable fashion, top of the Premier League. They normally breeze through these Champions League.

We've got to give Red Star a chance, the Serbian champions. They've won this competition as many times as Manchester City.

They've just got to try and hang on in the game. If Red Star hang in then you just never know in football.

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Milan were the better side for the first half. Newcastle might have just about sneaked it for parts of the second half.

I think Newcastle could've played a little bit better but I don't think they could've worked any harder. They threw their bodies in front of the ball when they had to. There were enough bodies back there - it didn't matter who it was, they were all getting in the way.

They walk away from this tonight and will be quite proud. Absolutely not outclassed. They will walk away from it without a shadow of a doubt the happier of the teams.

Elsewhere in Manchester City's group, German side RB Leipzig are off to a flyer, winning 3-1 away in Switzerland against Young Boys.

Image source, .

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

Pep Guardiola repeatedly talks about 'being there' rather than winning major trophies.

In his view, if you are contending, that is a sign of quality, winning a prize sometimes takes a little bit of luck.

So, it's no surprise a reference to City's repeated presence in the Champions League - by definition after a top four finish - comes before last season's final triumph over Inter Milan in his programme notes, even though it was the club's first success in the most prestigious tournament.

"The fact we are here, in Champions League for 13th consecutive season says everything you need to know about our club," he says.

"I am also very proud we are in this competition as defending champions. Some of nights here in Manchester were very special - nights I will never forget."

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City "haven't done anything special" having won just one Champions League.

After winning the Premier League and FA Cup last season, City became just the second English team to complete the Treble when they defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final.

City begin their Champions League title defence when they take on Red Star Belgrade at home on Tuesday.

"It'll be easier. The hardest to win is the first one," Guardiola said.

"For our club to win the Champions League is incredible, but in perspective, how many won one Champions League? A lot.

"We haven't done anything special with just one, but we are incredibly proud."

It was the one they had long been chasing.

Manchester City beat Inter Milan in last season's Champions League final to become European champions for the first time in their history.

Now they begin the defence of their title, with boss Pep Guardiola targeting a repeat...

Image source, Getty Images

Nope. It's a point each.

Newcastle will take that gladly, Milan much less so.

Ohhhh. Marco Sportiello rises and tips the ball away to the other side. Do we have time for another corner?

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Neither goalkeeper has had anything to do but this time it's on target. It completely opened up. Milan just could not get back.

Oh my! Newcastle almost nick it!

Sean Longstaff is set up on the edge of the box for a rising shot that Marco Sportiello tips over.

Hands on heads everywhere. Imagine the scenes if that had hit the net? It's a corner, though, with seconds left...

Into the final of the added five minutes. Newcastle almost have a point.

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

As a general rule the Serie A is not at the intensity of the Premier League for the entire game. In the Premier League it doesn't matter if it's 100 minutes, they keep on going.

Milan just haven't been able to do that.

Men do go forward but the first head to the delivery in is a Milan one. It sends them away on the break before Kieran Trippier gets back to slide in and win the ball.

Newcastle have a free-kick just inside the Milan half. Dare they commit men forward to try and win this?