Man City Boss Pep Guardiola calls for ‘something special’ to save the Champions League campaign | Football News

Pep Guardiola has called for “something special” from his Manchester City page to save their Champions League campaign.

City, 2023 winners, are slid outside the top 24 in the league after winning only two of their first seven matches and will now beat Club Brugge at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to stay in the competition.

“The situation we have is that we have to win the game and if not we will not continue in this competition,” said City Manager Guardiola. “But it’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity, a challenge and we’ll meet it.

“We want to score a lot in the first 20 minutes, but I don’t think it will happen. The procedure is to read the game we have to play – be completely relaxed, no feelings and understand the game.

“I know this type of game you have to put in something special – something that hasn’t been enough of so far in this Champions League – to win the matches.”

‘We haven’t been good enough’

City is in this situation after handing over a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 on Paris Saint-Germain last week.

Although they are two points outside the play-off positions, their task is at least straightforward because Club Brugge is one of the teams over them they can catch.

Victory would therefore be enough to snap a play-off space, and Guardiola, also a two-time winning coach with Barcelona, ​​is used to dealing with such pressure.

He said, “I’ve been in the Champions League for many years since I started my career as a manager and this type of game I’ve played many times.

“Sooner or later you have to play this type of game where if you win, you go through and if you don’t, you go out.

“It has happened more in the further stages, but we are here for the reasons we know we have not been good enough, but this is a situation we have lived many times.”

Guardiola refuses to consider the prospect of defeat.

He added, “It wouldn’t be good (losing), but I’m not thinking about it right now.”

When asked if that would be embarrassing, he said, “Ask me the question. I know you want it!

“Thanks for your concern again. I know how worried you are if we are out. After the game you can ask me and I will answer you.”

‘It’s a final for both sides’

The effort is also high for Club Brugge, who enters the game on the back of an undefeated run of 20 games.

Guardiola said, “It’s a final for both of us. I expect a tough opponent. When a team is 20-21 games undefeated, it’s because they’re good. There are no secrets about it.

“They make really good variations in the structure, a human-labeled situation, it’s always uncomfortable.

“We have to do well, but in every team, Manchester City included, there are weaknesses. You have to try to discover them all and try to punish them.”

Gardiol’s warning for the city’s teammates

The city is without defenders Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias, but are hopeful John Stones, who has not started for a month will be fit after performing from the bench against Chelsea on Saturday.

Defender Jesko Gardiol has warned his teammates not to expect an easy trip to Club Bruges.

“I can tell you they are a good team,” he said. “It won’t be easy. I was facing them three years ago with RB Leipzig and they were really good.

“They play with the wide whistles to let them play a V, so I think it will be a good game, we need points, we have to win and we will do everything to win the game. “