In years gone by, Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City's first target in a season is to secure a top-four finish, and therefore qualify for the Champions League. A secondary target that he often triumphs is qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League each season.
Both targets have something in common, too. Guardiola is keen to get them achieved as soon as possible, in order to then focus on winning the league or going as far as possible in Europe.
On the eve of City's latest Champions League campaign getting underway, history suggests Guardiola will field strong teams in every group game until qualification for the last 16 is secure. However, this season presents different challenges to consider that may force Guardiola to rethink.
ALSO READ: City get Akanji boost ahead of Champions League starting
City's first group game of 2022/23 is their trickiest on paper - away to the second-seeded side straight up, at a ground that has plenty of European pedigree and against a team with recent history of lifting European trophies.
Sevilla are Europa League experts, although have struggled to truly replicate their success in that competition to the Champions League. Still, they will relish the tag of being underdogs and boast some familiar names to Champions League viewers. The Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan will present a tough test that Guardiola will inevitably take with the seriousness he should.
However, there is more than three points at Sevilla to consider. A home game against Tottenham in the Premier League will be extremely difficult on Saturday, as will the visit of Borussia Dortmund next week. The following trip to Wolves could be easier, too.
Guardiola is battling various fitness concerns within his squad, and he will be keen at some point to rest some of his key players - like Erling Haaland - so they don't get overworked too early in the season. The fixtures are coming every three days until November, and Guardiola will want City to be as competitive then as they are now.
After the draw at Aston Villa, he insisted he wouldn't look too far ahead when picking his team, and would simply choose the strongest side available for each game.
“No, I’m not thinking far away," he said. “Now [the question] is how many players we have available for Sevilla, then after Tottenham. [We are taking it] step by step, I’m not thinking much. We will see.”
That stance would point to a continuation of his usual approach to Champions League games - get as many points as possible early on, then use any fixtures after qualification to rotate. However, the immediate fixture list might provide an opportunity to start some of that rotation now with a view to preserving his fit players for as long as possible.
With Sevilla badly out of form - they have one point from their four La Liga games so far - and City facing some difficult opponents in the next fortnight - maybe Guardiola can afford to risk making a few changes in Spain this week. Even if that means treating the Champions League group stage more like a marathon this year than the usual sprint.
ALSO READ:
