Pep Guardiola sends defiant Man City message ahead of Champions League last chance
Pep Guardiola sends defiant Man City message ahead of Champions League last chance
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Pep Guardiola has vowed that the real Manchester City are ready to stand up to save his Champions League dream. City must beat Belgian side Club Brugge in their final group game to qualify for a play-off that will give them the chance to reach the last 16 after a miserable European campaign which has seen them win just two of seven matches. The four-in-a-row Premier League champions are already out of the title race and are in a fierce fight to finish in the top four.
City produced their best performance in months to beat Chelsea on Saturday night, but failure to make the top 24 of the new Champions League format would be a devastating blow - both financially and to Guardiola’s ego. Guardiola said: “I know the players want it. I know how focused they are and I don't have doubts. But it's football and so you never know. The situation that we have is that we have to win the game and if not we will not continue in this competition.
“We want to go though to have another chance to play another two games to have the chance of the next stages. It's not a problem, it's an opportunity. “It's not personal for me. It’s for the club and, of course, it would not be good to go out. “But I'm not thinking about that right now. I appreciate our concern and all of you asking what happens if we don't qualify - but I'm thinking we're going to do it.”.
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