Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Wednesday night that he does not see the club winning the Champions League this season. This was after a nerve-wracking match against Club Brugge who gave City a scare with a first-half goal before the 2023 champions came back to win the contest 3-1.
“Right now, no (I don’t). I’m so pragmatic, the reality is the reality,” Guardiola responded to a question on if City can win the Champions League this season at the post-match press conference.
The Spaniard also said that he wasn’t particularly a big fan of the new Champions League format because they “suffered a lot” with just 2 wins from their first 7 matches.
“I would say I don’t like (the new format), because we suffer a lot. We were on the perch, 45 minutes to be out. It is an incredible lesson for me and the players that nothing is for granted,” he said.
He also shared a glimpse of what he told the players when they were trailing 0-1 in half time.
“I told them it was over, that we are out…” he said, before adding, “In the second half, we lift our soul and our hearts were free. For today we are in the next round, that’s good.”
City face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the two-legged knockout round, and while City’s form this season does not bode well against either of the European heavyweights.
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In he match, City flirted with a disaster before rallying to beat Club Brugge 3-1 in a must-win game. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, and then sitting 26th in the live standings, the 2023 title-winner was sparked by substitute Savinho to avoid elimination.
(With agency inputs)
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