Man City survive major Champions League scare to qualify as play-off opponents named
Man City survive major Champions League scare to qualify as play-off opponents named
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The Fire Brigade were called to a blaze outside the Etihad but it was Manchester City’s Champions League hopes which nearly went up in smoke. The scoreline makes it look comfortable than it was because this was an almighty scare for Pep Guardiola’s men who eventually squeezed through into next month’s play-offs. Luckily, a fire in one of the merchandising stands outside the stadium was put out but, for a while, the flames were fanned on another nervous night in a turbulent season.
City boss Guardiola went through the whole range of emotions, from despair when Club Brugge took an unlikely lead, getting booked in frustration and then celebrating wildly when, finally, Savinho put the game to bed. It was hardly an easy passage for City who look so far away from the team which won the Treble less than two years ago. Now, they look vulnerable and the air of invincibility has gone.
Guardiola thanked everyone before the game for their concern in a sarcastic way suggesting everyone wants to see them fail. But it’s actually probably more the fascination of how on earth the former European champions with the best squad and best manager have found themselves in this spot. Just squeezing through in the play-offs. And facing a potentially tricky opponent next time.
This is not how it is supposed to be for the team which starts every year as the Champions League favourites… but it is hard to see them living up to that tag this year. One of those so-called supercomputers calculated at the start of the competition there was a 0.4 chance of City finishing on eight points and going out at the first hurdle. That is what they would have faced if they had lost.
