Slovan Bratislava, the intriguing mystery that Man City needs to unravel.

Slovan Bratislava is a club many may not have heard of, but they are ready to spring surprises on a Man City side dealing with multiple injury issues.

There are two men named Vladimir Weiss at Slovan Bratislava. One is the coach who led Slovakia through the 2010 World Cup group stages, and the other is his son, Vladimir Weiss, a product of the Manchester City academy.

They sit together talking about miracles and how “fairy tales can come true” as the Slovak champions face one of the strongest teams in Europe.

When a reporter asked Weiss about his objective for this match, the Slovan Bratislava coach replied immediately, “Survive,” followed by a laugh. He also made a tongue-in-cheek remark about the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in the visiting team, and no one in the room blamed him for doing so.

Slovan, making their first-ever Champions League appearance, are up against a weakened Man City. They are aiming to cause an upset in the second group match, especially with the advantage of playing at home.

“I love Ancelotti and Klopp, but Pep has changed football with his attitude, creativity, and stubbornness — in a positive way. I’ll wake up tomorrow, and that dream (beating Man City) will come true,” Weiss said.

Meanwhile, Weiss ‘Junior’ has more personal connections to England. He recalled calling his father from the tunnel after scoring the only goal against Arsenal in the League Cup and tearing up, thinking about the twilight of his career.

“They (Man City) will always be in my heart. I left as a teenager, and when I returned, my father said I had become a man. I also have many fond memories of the family I stayed with there. It was in Didsbury, at a place called Winchester Park. I lived with a woman named Barbara and her husband Les, along with their children and two dogs,” Weiss ‘Junior’ recalled.

“My start was incredibly tough. I fought (to get playing time) with the help of my parents and everyone at City. I’m very grateful because, in those first few months, I wanted to go back; I really missed home. It was hard, but it made me who I am, so I’m very thankful.”

“This match is a reward for everything everyone here has given to us and what we’ve given to them. Tomorrow is a day to enjoy. We’ll try to do everything we can to create a miracle,” he added.

Slovan Bratislava is a renowned club in Slovakia. However, it wasn’t until this season, with the new Champions League format, that they earned the chance to compete in the group stage. Since the start of the season, Slovan Bratislava has played 8 domestic league matches, winning 7 and losing only 1. In their first Champions League group match, Vladimir Weiss’ side suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat away to Celtic. As Weiss ‘Junior’ mentioned, they might need a miracle to even hope for a point against Manchester City.