Manchester City winger Allan Elias has spoken about nerves in the UEFA Champions League and adapting to Europe after starting in his side's 5-1 win over AEK Athens on Tuesday night.
Allan Elias started for Man City against AEK Athens on Tuesday night.
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Allan, 22, progressed through the Palmeiras youth system before being promoted to the first team in January 2025, and was named the breakthrough player of the Brazilian season that year.
The Brazilian started for City at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, in a match that followed the club's 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain six days earlier, which was their first loss of the 2026/27 season.
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick in the victory, while Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also scored for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
The result came against the backdrop of an independent commission's guilty verdict on 114 of 115 charges, published on 29 September, and the club's comprehensive appeal lodged at 7pm on 1 October.
AEK Athens, the Greek champions, had never previously played Manchester City before the meeting, and arrived at the Etihad Stadium winless in their last 19 European away matches.
Allan admits to challenges to adapt to life in Europe
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, in comments relayed by City Xtra Português, Allan was asked about playing Champions League football. "Of course you feel nervous, but we try to stay as calm as possible because these nights are incredible, and we try to enjoy them in the best possible way," Allan said.
The Brazilian was one of several summer signings in the team, with Anderson and Fernandez also arriving at the Etihad Stadium during the recent transfer window.
Allan was then asked about the challenge of adapting to life in Europe after leaving Brazil to join Manchester City. "In Brazil I always dreamed of being here and experiencing this," the winger added.
"I didn't know it'd be so difficult to adapt; with the language, the cold, everything else. But we have to be strong and adapt as quickly as possible."
Getting to know Allan Elias
Manchester City signed Allan on a contract running until the summer of 2031, and the deal was reported at €40 million, with €37.5 million up front and €2.5 million in add-ons.
The Brazilian was seen as a replacement for Savinho, the winger who left Manchester City this summer for Tottenham in a deal worth £85 million.
Allan was born in Florianópolis and made 96 appearances for Palmeiras, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists, before moving to England.
He won the Bola de Prata breakthrough player award in 2025, the same year that he was promoted from the youth ranks to the Palmeiras first team in the month of January.
Director of football Hugo Viana oversaw a rebuild of the first-team squad in the recent transfer window, with Anderson, Jeremy Monga, Geronimo Rulli, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Allan, Iliman Ndiaye and Fernandez all arriving at the club.
As far as departures go, Rodri left for Barcelona in the same period of change at the club, while Bernardo Silva joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. Tijjani Reijnders joined Saudi side Al Qadsiah and Nico Gonzalez was sold to Newcastle United.
Three points clear of Premier League champions Arsenal at the top of the table, City travel to Aston Villa as they vie for an eighth successive victory to start the 2026/27 league season.