Man City chief Pep Guardiola calls for “something special” to save the Champions League campaign | Football news
Pep Guardiola invited “something special” on his part Manchester City to save his Champions League campaign.
City, winners in 2023, slid in front of the top 24 in the League phase after winning only two of his first seven matches on Wednesday and now has to beat Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium to stay in the competition.
“The situation we have is that we have to win the game, and if not, we will not continue in this competition,” said City Manager Guardiola. “But that’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity, a challenge and we’ll face it.
“We would like to achieve a lot in the first 20 minutes, but I don’t think it will happen. The approach is to read the game we have to play – to be completely relaxed, without emotions and understand the game.
“I know these types of games that you have to put in something special – something that has not been enough in this Champions League so far – to win the games.”
‘We weren’t good enough’
The city is found in this trouble after handing over a 2-0 lead last week to lose 4-2 in Paris Saint-Germain.
Although two points are outside the play-off position, their task is at least simple because the Brugge club is one of the teams above them they can catch.
The victory, therefore, would be enough to install the playoff place, and Guardiola, also a double coach of the winner with Barcelona, was used to dealing with such pressure.
He said, “I’ve been in the Champions League for many years since I started my career as a manager and this kind of games I’ve played many times.
“Sooner or later you have to play these types of games where if you win, you pass, and if you don’t go out.
“It happened more in further stages, but here we are for reasons we know we were not good enough, but this is the situation we lived many times.”
Guardiola refuses to think about the possibility of defeat.
He added, “It wouldn’t be good [to lose] But I’m not thinking about it right now. “
Asked if it would be embarrassed, he said, “Ask me the question after. I know you want it!
“Thank you for your concern. I know how worried you are if we are out there. After the game you can ask me and I’ll answer you.”
‘It’s finally for both sides’
The roles are also high for Club Brugge, which enters the game on the back of the undefeated 20 games.
Guardiola said, “It’s finally for both of us. I expect a strenuous opponent. When a team 20-21 games is undefeated, that’s because they are good. There are no secrets about it.
“They do it really well -sted variations in accumulation, a situation that characterizes man is always embarrassed.
“We have to do it well, but in every team, including Manchester City, there are weaknesses. You have to try to discover them everything and try to punish them.”
Gardiol’s warning for city teammates
The city is without defenders Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias, but they hope that John Stones, who has not started for a month, will be in shape after appearing from a bench against Chelsea on Saturday.
Defender Josko Guardiol warned his teammates not to expect a slight ride against Club Brugge.
“I can tell you they are a good team,” he said. “It won’t be easy. I faced them three years ago with RB Leipzig and they were really good.
“They play with wide wings to allow them to play one V One, so I think it will be a good game, we need points, we have to win and we will do our best to win the game.”
