Guardiola admits penalty concerns as Manchester City progress

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declared it mission accomplished after his side's 0-0 Champions League draw against Borussia Dortmund.

The shared points after a largely uneventful encounter at Signal Iduna Park were enough to see already-qualified City clinch top spot in Group G with one game remaining and Dortmund also progress to the last 16.

City went closest to breaking the deadlock when Riyad Mahrez’s second-half penalty was saved, but neither side showed any urgency to chase a winner in the closing stages.

Guardiola admitted his players showed signs of fatigue having travelled to Dortmund after Saturday’s 3-1 home win against Brighton.

He told BT Sport: "We played much better second half. In the first half we lost some balls to them because they were so fast.

"We suffered I think because our game on Saturday was so demanding physically, and the trip and everything, really tired.

"We wanted to finish top of the group when we were here and we (had already) qualified, we’re in the last 16 so yeah, really good."

Guardiola revealed Erling Haaland and Joao Cancelo, both substituted at half-time, had both felt unwell before the game and both had sustained minor foot injuries.

When asked later about Haaland’s injury, the Spaniard said: "I spoke with (the medical staff) at half-time and they were a little bit concerned, but I saw him walking more or less normally. We will see."

The City boss refused to be drawn on whether Haaland will become designated penalty-taker after Mahrez saw his second-half spot-kick saved.

Mahrez also had a penalty saved in City’s previous Champions League tie earlier this month when they were held 0-0 in Copenhagen.

City’s latest penalty miss was the 25th they have failed to convert in all competitions