Rafael da Silva aiming for Champions League double over Manchester City

Lyon defender Rafael da Silva believes his side are capable of bagging a Champions League double over Manchester City when they face them at the Groupama Stadium later in the month. The former Manchester United star was part of the Lyon side, who secured a shock 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in September – which remains as the Citizens’ only defeat of the ongoing campaign.

Speaking to reporters, Rafael highlighted that his team are going through a good season in the French league despite the massive gap between themselves and leaders Paris Saint-Germain. He added to point out the victory on the road to the Citizens and feels his team can replicate the result in their homepatch in 10 days’ time.

“We’re having a good season but maybe people don’t think that when they see we’re 15 points behind PSG. But, while we’re actually two points off second and we’re second in our Champions League group, three points head of the teams below. We beat Man City away and now we want to beat them at home,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked on the progress of Memphis Depay at Lyon, the Brazilian spoke on the positive note and suggested that the Dutchman has excelled since being entrusted with the job of leading the club’s attack upfront, he added: “Memphis started here as a winger but I don’t see him as a winger. I see him as striker in the way he plays and holds the ball. He plays as a striker and he’s found his place here.”

“Depay had a rather forgettable spell with Manchester United where he dropped down the pecking order“ within months of joining the club from PSV in 2016. He thereafter went through a tough period on the sidelines before making “the switch to Lyon“, where he has enjoyed one of the best phases of his professional career.

Moreover, he has also cemented his spot with the Netherlands national team and he has been influential in their Nations League campaign with two goals from three appearances. The Dutch require one point from the upcoming game versus Germany to ensure their spot into the finals of the competition next year.