Pep Guardiola during Manchester City’s Champions League win
Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City team face a ‘really tough’ task to progress in the Champions League after being drawn against Real Madrid of Bayern Munich in the play-offs.
Man City avoided an embarrassing Champions League exit by coming from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Needing a win to force their way into the play-offs, 2023 winners Manchester City had a mountain to climb when Raphael Onyedika put the visitors in front on the stroke of half-time.
City were outside the top-24 teams in the Champions League at that stage but had renewed hope just eight minutes into the second half when Mateo Kovacic drove forward and slotted into the bottom corner.
The reigning Premier League champions went ahead nine minutes later through Joel Ordonez’s own goal, before Savinho put the game to bed late on.
While Manchester City were relieved to scrape through, they will face a real examination in the play-offs against either Champions League holders Real Madrid or German giants Bayern Munich.
‘Going to Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will be really tough,’ Guardiola said. ‘But it’s in two weeks and in two weeks we have a few players back, the new signings back, so hopefully we can do two good games.
Man City scraped through to the play-offs
‘They are better than us right now, both of them, but I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next two weeks.
‘Ruben [Dias] and Nathan [Aké] are back, Jérémy [Doku], Oscar [Bobb], new signings. If everybody comes back, we can compete.’
On his team’s performance against Club Brugge, Guardiola added: ‘In the second half we lifted our soul and our hearts were free.
City came from behind at the Etihad Stadium
‘For today we are in the next round, that’s good. The first half was so academic, we didn’t have the spark to do it against a team that defends really well.
‘It has been so unstable this season. Today is a sense of relief to qualify and of course, it is a long season for us.’
Ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is excited by the prospect of his former club facing either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, now managed by Etihad legend Vincent Kompany.
Real Madrid could face Man City in the play-offs
‘It would be great to get Vinnie [Kompany] back at the Etihad with Bayern, but Real Madrid would be an absolutely massive tie too,’ he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘Whoever City and Celtic, get next out of those two in the play-offs, it is really exciting for both my former clubs… bring on Friday’s draw!’
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, believes an enormous Champions League clash could be just what Man City need following their struggles this season.
As well as almost exiting the Champions League at the earliest possible opportunity, Man City have slipped 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and appear to be in a fight for the top-four rather than the title.
‘Sometimes you need a game of that magnitude to get yourself mentally back in that state,’ Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.
‘It’s a chance to remind everyone who you are, what you’re about and the quality you have.
‘This is becoming maybe a cup team this season as the league is beyond their reach. But no one will want Man City.’
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