MANCHESTER, England — As Manchester City prepares for a crucial match against Club Brugge, the stakes are high, with the risk of an unexpected early departure from the Champions League looming over the team. Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, remains focused on the task ahead instead of dwelling on the possibility of elimination from the tournament.
“Of course it would be not good, but I am not thinking about that right now,” Guardiola conveyed during a press conference on Tuesday. “I appreciate all of your concern… but I’m convinced we will succeed.”
With just one game left in the restructured league phase of the tournament, the situation appears to favor City. Playing at the Etihad Stadium against Belgian champions Brugge, City is expected to perform well, especially considering their impressive 34-game unbeaten streak at home in Europe dating back to 2018. However, after a challenging period that saw them manage only one win in 13 outings during the fall months, including nine defeats, City acknowledges that nothing is guaranteed.
“The situation we’re in is straightforward: winning is our only option, or else we will not progress in this competition,” Guardiola stated. “It’s not a problem; it’s an opportunity and a challenge that we are ready to tackle.”
Currently placed 25th in the group standings, City faces an uphill battle as only the top eight teams move directly to the knockout stage, while the teams ranked 9th to 24th enter a playoff for a chance to advance. Brugge occupies the 20th spot, holding a slight advantage with three more points than City and arrives in Manchester with an impressive 20-game unbeaten streak. A draw would secure Brugge’s passage to the playoffs.
City is not the only prominent club navigating a precarious situation, as all 36 participating teams will play simultaneously for the final matchday. The new format introduced by UEFA this season, which replaced the traditional method of eight mini-groups with a 36-team league phase, has produced unexpected outcomes.
Another heavyweight club, Paris Saint-Germain, finds itself in a similar predicament. Despite their recent victory over City that allowed them to step into playoff contention, PSG could also be eliminated if they fail to win against Stuttgart.
Meanwhile, the storied Real Madrid, which has claimed the title 15 times, may be forced to enter the playoffs. Other iconic teams such as Bayern Munich, Juventus, and last year’s finalist Borussia Dortmund are also facing uncertain futures as they seek to secure their places in the next round.
