Guardiola admitted that Manchester City’s elimination from the Champions League has become a “reality” after losing 4-2 away to Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester City dropped to 25th in the table and out of the knockout stages of the new format after conceding a two-goal lead at the Parc des Princes.
Goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland lifted Pep Guardiola’s side into 18th place, but that was short-lived as PSG scored three times in 22 minutes to make it 4-2 Victory leaves City two points behind 24th-placed Stuttgart heading into their “final game”. Opportunity against Club Brugge on January 29th”.
Guardiola said after the game: “We have one last chance to play against Club Brugge at home and hope we can advance.”
“It can happen and if we don’t win we don’t deserve it. It’s always a tough draw and that’s the reality, we didn’t get enough points and we have to accept it. We have to do what we have to do Things to do.
“We can’t cope. When a team is better I can take it without a problem. Now we are preparing for Chelsea and the final against Club Brugge. We need to beat them.
“That’s what we have to do, survive and try to move forward. I know the players are working hard and they have doubts, but when a team gets better you have to accept it.”
Guardiola: Table is fair
Asked whether his side’s 25th place in the Champions League table was a fair reflection of their performance in Europe, Guardiola added: “Is the table fair? Of course it is.”
“Is there any reason to say it’s unfair? We’re still in this position and we’re struggling against top teams. We have to accept it and recover.”
Grealish: We lost too many leads
Manchester City forward Jack Grealish say TNT Sports:
“Usually in these moments we perform well. It’s happened too many times this season – being one, two or three goals ahead and not being able to see the end result.
“Every other season we manage the game well.
“I don’t know if it’s a confidence issue. It’s up to us to change that and win next week’s game (against Brugge).”
“We’ve had games like this in recent seasons. High-pressure games and we need games like this. It’s up to us and we perform well at home.”
Enrique: Football is sometimes unfair
Despite rising to 22nd after their stunning comeback victory, PSG are still not guaranteed a place in the knockout play-offs as their boss Luis Enrique is clear about the challenge ahead.
“Football is sometimes unfair and sometimes unbelievable,” he said after the game. “When we score, everyone feels full of new energy. We need to win the last game against Stuttgart.
“We are one of the best young teams in the Champions League and the confidence is amazing. It shows everyone that they are ready to work and suffer as a team, even against a team like Manchester City.”