After his team just made it to the knockout stage, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not totally convinced with the new Champions League structure, but he described the experience as a “incredible lesson” for his team.
In a thrilling league phase finale, City overcame a goal down to defeat Belgian team Brugge on Wednesday, finishing 22nd in the standings and three spots above elimination.
“I would say I don’t like (the new format), because we suffer a lot,” said Guardiola, whose team won just two of their first seven games to set up Wednesday’s thriller.
“We were on the perch, 45 minutes to be out. It is an incredible lesson for me and the players that nothing is for granted.”
Although City’s performance this season does not promise well against any of the European powerhouses, the manager stated that he will at least have some reinforcements when the team plays either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the two-leg knockout phase.
Despite being ineligible to participate in the league round, Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis are able to join the team for the playoff matches in the second and third weeks of February.
A few players might also make their injury comebacks.
“In two weeks we will be better,” Guardiola said. “Players will come back, we have new signings.”
Guardiola is also realistic in a season that has them an uncharacteristic fourth in the Premier League.
“I don’t know if they are happy to play against us, it is what it is. One is the king of the competition, the other is the second or third king,” Guardiola said of Real Madrid, who have 15 Champions League titles and Bayern Munich, who have six.
“We play this competition with a thousand million problems. They are favourites, yes, they are better than us right now.”
Mateo Kovacic and substitute Savinho scored in the victory, plus Brugge had an own goal.
“The first half was so academic, we missed a spark, Savinho helped us. He changed the game, after five minutes created two or three corners,” Guardiola said.
“Sometimes you are winning 2-0 or 3-0, you are scared to lose. You are 1-0 down out of the Champions League and in the right moments we found the goals.”
Guardiola kicked a drinks cooler in celebration after Savinho’s goal that all but put the game away, and said he was fine when asked – tongue in cheek – in the post-game press conference if his foot was OK.
