Man City: Pep Guardiola needs improvement of Champions League-Play-offs

Even in victory here, the city was too often vulnerable to the counter -attack, with too many spaces in the midfield for club wheels to exploit, but they dug deep as it means something and itching out of the hole they were in.

City will somehow have to fashion a huge improvement in the short period between this victory and Play-offs if they are not to slip out at that time.

This was inconceivable at the start of the season considering their pedigree, but it has become very conceivable in recent weeks, especially after the terrible walk over they came when they lost 4-2 in Paris.

Guardiola, relieved as well as happy, hopes City will soon be in a stronger position capable of calling new to Omar Marmoush among others, while the story is full of teams that transformed early matches into the Champions League triumph.

John Stones made a welcome return, while Guardiola hopes that others like Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake could be back with Oscar Bobb, while Kevin de Bruyne can acquire several minutes and fitness.

Guardiola can also call the memories of beating Bavaria and genuine on the way to the Champions League final victory against Inter Milan in Istanbul in 2023.

“It may seem impossible today, but tomorrow the mindset will change,” Guardiola said. “We will try against Real or Bayern. We will create problems. These players have something special. We will try to do it.”

It was almost a lower dog, rarely Manchester City’s station in recent years.

This is where they are now in this tournament – but when a team of proven quality has a battle chance, they can then defy the odds.

However, the city will have to climb several levels if this painful, criminal Champions League journey is to continue in the last 16.