Pep Guardiola: Man City manager admits Champions League relegation is now a ‘reality’ after collapse against PSG | Football news
Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City’s elimination from the Champions League is now a “reality” after a 4-2 defeat by Paris-Saint Germain away from home.
City have dropped to 25th in the table, meaning they are out of the knockout stages in the new format, after squandering a two-goal lead at the Parc des Princes.
Goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland lifted Guardiola’s side to 18th, but it was short-lived as PSG scored three times in 22 minutes in a 4-2 win that left City two points behind 24th-placed Stuttgart, who started in his “last” chance” against Club Brugge on January 29.
“We have the last chance at home against Brugge and we hope we can qualify,” Guardiola said after the game.
“It could happen, if we don’t win, we don’t deserve it. It’s always a difficult game, this is reality, we don’t have enough points and we have to accept it. We have to do what we have to do.
“We couldn’t cope. When one team is better, I have no problem accepting it. Now we are preparing for Chelsea and the final [game] against Club Brugge. We have to beat them.
“That’s what we have to do, survive and try to move forward. I know the players are trying and have doubts, but when the team is better, you have to accept it.”
Guardiola: The table is fair
When asked if seeing his side in 25th place in the Champions League table was a good reflection of their results in Europe, Guardiola added: “Is the table fair? Of course it is.
“What is the argument to say that it is not fair? We are still in this position, we struggled against top teams. We have to accept it and recover.”
Grealish: We’re losing too many potential clients
Man City forward Jack Grealish speaking with TNT Sport:
“Usually we’re so good at times like this. It’s happened too many times this season – we went one, two or three goals up and couldn’t see the result.
“In every other season, we were so good at leading games.
“I don’t know if it’s a confidence issue. It’s up to us to change that going forward and win that game next week [vs Club Brugge].
“We’ve had games like this in recent seasons. High-pressure games and we’ll need that. It’s up to us and we’re really good at home.”
Enrique: Soccer is sometimes unfair
Despite moving up to 22nd after the stunning comeback win, PSG are still not guaranteed a place in the knockout play-offs as their boss Luis Enrique is aware of the challenge ahead.
“Football is sometimes unfair, sometimes unbelievable,” he said after the match. “When we scored, it was a new energy for everyone. We have to win our last game against Stuttgart.
“We are one of the best young teams in the Champions League, and in terms of confidence, it’s unbelievable. It showed everyone that they are ready to work and suffer as a team, even against a team like Manchester City.”
