Dortmund midfielder Gross claims Manchester City seem more vulnerable now

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Pascal Gross stated that Manchester City, their Champions League rivals set to face off on Wednesday, appear more vulnerable these days than when he played in England.

Gross shared these thoughts on Tuesday while in Manchester. He had spent seven years with Brighton before transferring to Dortmund in 2024.

While the German international was in the Premier League, City claimed the English championship every year except once.

"Off the top of my head, I would say they are more approachable now than they were a few years back," the 34-year-old remarked to journalists.

City ended the previous season in third place in England, trailing champions Liverpool by 13 points, and they currently sit six points behind top side Arsenal after 10 matches this term.

"I believe they are going through some changes. Several key figures who drove Citys triumphs over multiple years have departed," Gross explained.

"Yet they retain top-tier global talents in their squad, so they might be in a rebuilding stage."

Gross offered particular commendation for City forward Erling Haaland.

Haaland, who played two and a half years at Dortmund prior to his 2022 switch to City, is enjoying outstanding form this season with 26 goals in 16 appearances for club and nation.

However, Gross dismissed ideas that City depend too heavily on the Norwegian forward.

"Naturally, he is a top-class talent delivering remarkable statistics right now," he noted.

"But stopping him requires a team effort. We must tackle him as a unit, though City boasts exceptional talent across the board."

Both Dortmund and City have secured two victories and one draw from their initial three Champions League matches.

Dortmund manager Niko Kovac indicated his team would "stick to our style" even with the threat posed by Haaland.

"We need to be cautious of Erling Haaland," the Croatian emphasised.

"But if we just defend deeply tomorrow, it could get tough, as this City side possesses the skills to dismantle compact defences.

"Our aim is to push forward and keep action away from our area. Thus, we will adhere to our approach."