IRISH EXAMINER
Pep Guardiola is calling for “something special” from his Manchester City side to save their Champions League campaign.
City, the 2023 winners, must beat Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to stay in the competition.
Guardiola’s team have slipped outside the top 24 in the league phase after winning just two of their first seven matches.
“The situation that we have is that we have to win the game and if not we will not continue in this competition,” said the City manager.
“But it’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity, a challenge, and we will face it.
“We would like to score a lot in the first 20 minutes but I don’t think it is going to happen.
I know these type of games you have to put in something special – something there has not been enough of so far in this Champions League – to win the games
“The approach is to read the game we have to play – be completely relaxed, no emotions and understand the game.
“I know these type of games you have to put in something special – something there has not been enough of so far in this Champions League – to win the games.”
City find themselves in this predicament after surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 at Paris St Germain last week.
Yet although they are two points outside the play-off positions, their task is at least straightforward because Club Brugge are one of the teams above them that they can catch.
Victory therefore would be enough to snatch a play-off spot and Guardiola, also a two-time winning coach with Barcelona, is used to dealing with such pressures…
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