LIVERPOOL, England -- Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has told ESPN FC that he wants to avoid Manchester City in Friday's draw for the Champions League quarterfinals, insisting it is too early in the competition to face an English rival.
Five-time European champions Liverpool and Premier League leaders City are the only English clubs still competing in this season's Champions League following the round of 16 exits of Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Both sides could be paired with each other or European heavyweights Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. Outsiders Roma and Sevilla are also potential opponents. But if Liverpool can avoid one potential match-up, Wijnaldum hopes that they avoid a two-legged clash with Pep Guardiola's side at this stage of the tournament.
"No, not now, I don't want to play an English team now," Wijnaldum told ESPN FC. "To be fair, we played Manchester City two times and I think the first game we had a red card so that was a difficult game.
"But the second game at home, it was a good game for us. I also think the supporters enjoyed it so even if we play Man City, I think we have two good games."
Lionel Messi's stunning performance for Barcelona during their 3-0 win against Chelsea at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, when the Argentina star broke the 100-goal barrier in the Champions League with two strikes, confirmed the La Liga leaders status as the tournament favourites. But Wijnaldum insists that each of the surviving teams all command respect.
"To be fair, they are all good teams," he said. "They have already shown that in the Champions League group stages that they are a good team so it doesn't matter who we get, it's going to be a difficult game.
"It doesn't matter basically, if you reach the final, who you're playing.
"I think every team now just wants to make the final and they don't think about who they are going to play against."