Pep Guardiola has dismissed the notion that Manchester City will gain an advantage by playing their Champions League last-16 away leg at a neutral location.
City's scheduled trip to face Borussia Monchengladbach was moved to Budapest as Germany are restricting inbound flights from England for Covid-19 reasons.
The fixture is still Monchengladbach's designated home leg, meaning the Bundesliga side could conceivably lose the tie on away goals despite playing both legs away from home. With other ties in the Champions League and Europa League moved to neutral locations for similar reasons, there have been calls for the away goals rule to be scrapped, or even for ties to be played over a single leg.
Asked about the strange situation, Guardiola had sympathy for City's opponents, but referenced the advantage Real Madrid received last season by playing their home leg against the Blues infront of supporters, as well as the scheduling of City's weekend fixture compared to Gladbach's.
"Yes, Monchengladbach would be better to play at home," he said.
"Last season we played Madrid with spectators then at home without spectators. They play I think on Friday in the Bundesliga, we play on Sunday. Any situation is different. I would love to play in Gladbach. But it is what it is.
"It's difficult to understand why we can't fly to Germany but can fly to Budapest. Why this country is allowed but the other one is not allowed when the situation is worldwide.
"It's not difficult for UEFA, FIFA, we are in a bubble, in three weeks the national teams fly everywhere. It's difficult for all the teams."
