Manchester City v Monaco: reaction, analysis

Match dates: 21 February, 15 March

Reaction

Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City director of football: "Monaco are playing probably the best football in France now. In the group of Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen they were top. They have young players and a lot of talent. They play good football. It is a good draw."

Leonardo Jardim, Monaco coach: "Manchester City are a big team, semi-finalists last season with a lot of quality players. We aren't favourites but I have faith in our qualities. That said, there are over 60 days between now and the tie. In football, that's a long time. Everything can change. But it's certain that, along with Bayern and Real Madrid, they were the strongest of the second-placed sides, and Pep Guardiola is one of the best coaches in the world."

Monaco enjoy their home win against Tottenham©AFP/Getty Images

Key facts

• These teams have never played each other before.
• City are unbeaten in their three previous games against French sides – all against Paris Saint-Germain.
• The English club drew 0-0 at home to Paris in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage and eliminated them in last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finals (2-2 away, 1-0 home).
• Monaco registered two 2-1 victories against Tottenham in this season's group stage.
• The Ligue 1 team's record versus English sides: P16 W8 D4 L4.
• Monaco knocked out Arsenal in the round of 16 in 2014/15.
• Yaya Touré, omitted from City's group stage squad, spent the 2006/07 campaign with Monaco, scoring five goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances.