Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has acknowledged that his team now faces a crucial “one last chance” to avoid an early exit from the UEFA Champions League following their 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
Despite City taking an early two-goal lead, PSG mounted a stunning comeback, leaving Guardiola’s men with a daunting task to secure qualification for the next stage.
The defeat leaves Manchester City in a precarious position, with their hopes of advancing now resting on a home win against Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday.
Anything other than a victory will result in the Premier League champions’ elimination from the competition.
Guardiola, whose side won the Champions League in 2023, expressed disappointment but also focused on the task ahead.
“We have a last chance against Brugge, and if we don’t go through, it’s because we don’t deserve it,” he said during a post-match press conference. “We have to recover against Chelsea in our next game and just move forward.”
The defeat marked Manchester City’s third successive away loss in the Champions League this season and their ninth instance of surrendering a winning position.
Guardiola, however, accepted that PSG’s performance on the night was superior, praising their intensity and aggressive play.
“Tonight, they [PSG] were better. Congratulate PSG and accept it. The law of football is like that — how intense and aggressive they were in key positions,” Guardiola noted.
The City manager acknowledged that his team had their moments but failed to maintain their advantage.
“We found our moment with 0-2 for the goal, but in the first half, they had two clear chances,” Guardiola added, emphasizing the need for his team to recover and improve for their upcoming fixtures.